CITY SLACKERS HAND ADVANTAGE TO KLOPP
LIVERPOOL were the real winners as champions and title favourites Manchester City suffered a shock defeat just 12 days before their title showdown at the Etihad. Palace gave Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool’s title push a huge boost with this deserved win, which included a contender for goal of the season from Andros Townsend, a breathtaking 30-yard volley.
It is also a second Premier League defeat in three games for the champions, following their 2-0 loss at Chelsea, and raised serious questions about City’s title defence and whether Pep Guardiola and his players have what it takes to retain the trophy they won so emphatically last season.
While his players underperformed, Guardiola must shoulder some of the blame, starting with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero on the bench, and deploying defender John Stones in the holding midfield role. Stones never looked convincing or comfortable in midfield, while the introduction of De Bruyne, who galvanised City when he came on and scored to give them hope, came too late for the Blues to salvage anything from the game.
But Palace deserved credit
for taking full advantage of such an off-day for City, with Roy Hodgson’s side playing with enterprise, discipline and industry, and holding firm at the end when Guardiola’s side put them under sustained pressure in search of an equaliser. City went ahead in the 27th minute, Fabian Delph picking out Ilkay Gundogan, the midfielder ghosting into the six-yard box to direct a header beyond the reach of Vicente Guaita.
The goal looked to be the platform for City to assert their superiority but Palace had other ideas, with Hodgson’s side drawing level six minutes later.
There seemed little danger when Jeffrey Schlupp picked up possession on the edge of the City area after a Stones tackle on James McArthur sent the ball straight into his path.
Schlupp took full advantage of Kyle Walker’s hesitant defending, creating enough space to drill a low, angled shot that gave Ederson no chance.
City found themselves behind two minutes later. There seemed nothing on when Bernardo Silva headed the ball out, but Townsend struck the sweetest volley into the top corner.
Six minutes after the restart Walker made a rash challenge to clip Max Meyer and concede a penalty. Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic stepped up to beat Ederson and make it 3-1. As well as Sergio Aguero, Guardiola threw on De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez in a desperate last bid to rescue the game. De Bruyne gave City hope five minutes from time with an angled cross/shot.
But it proved to be false hope and the real winners here were the red half of Merseyside.
MAN CITY ............ 2 CRYSTAL PAL ....... 3