THE VERDICT: CITY 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 3

MANCHESTER City are going to have to play much better than this if they are to retain their Premier League title after slumping to a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

Liverpool now lead the way by four points after an impressive win at Wolves and it is tempting to view recent weeks as a significant reversal in fortunes.

Where Jurgen Klopp’s men were hanging on, now it is City struggling in games and if Wednesday looked like the injury situation was on the mend, the absence of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho (as well as long-term absentee Benjamin Mendy) from the starting lineup was an unexpected blow.

Pep Guardiola’s side, though, only have themselves to blame for switching off on what had looked like another comfortable afternoon when Ilkay Gundogan headed home Fabian Delph’s cross after 27 minutes.

A goal ahead and seeing 80 per cent possession, it was City’s game to lose... and they promptly did. First, Kyle Walker allowed Jeffrey Schlupp too much time to smash the ball beyond Ederson’s far post, then minutes later a comedy of errors could only clear the ball straight onto the boot of Andros Townsend - even if nobody could imagine the thunderbolt he would unleash from 30 yards. To compound matters, shortly after the break, Walker dove in wildly at Max Meyer’s feet to give away a penalty, which Luka Milivojevic powerfully converted. Three shots on target for Palace and three goals. Aguero and De Bruyne were both off the bench with a third of the game still to play and with two defenders making way, the hosts set about laying siege to a goal they had not threatened enough; Riyad Mahrez swiftly followed. But there was little improvement, with Kevin De Bruyne’s cross-cumgoal the only shot on target they managed in the last 20 minutes. That slice of luck, with five remaining, sparked the hosts into life briefly and with too little time. For the first moment in a while, there is clear space in the title race with Liverpool more than a win in front.

Gundogan (27), De Bruyne (85) Schlupp (33), Townsend (35), Milivojevic (51 pen) 78% 22% 19 13 5 0 Guaita, van Aanholt, McArthur, Zaha Andre Marriner 54,340

That may work to take away some of the pressure that Guardiola had hinted had begun to wear heavily on his players.

With the perfect home record gone, that adds some more perspective to Klopp’s comment this week that City have no weaknesses.

There will be many more twists and turns in an exciting title race, not least when Liverpool come to town on January 3, a game that Guardiola will hope to be able to call on Silva and Fernandinho.

For that game to make a difference, however, City cannot afford any more performances like this in the remaining 20 games.