City slickers keep the pressure on Liverpool
CRYSTAL PALACE 0
MANCHESTER CITY 2
Jesus (39), D Silva (41)
Manchester City bounced back in the Premier League to win at Crystal Palace and cut the gap at the top to five points ahead of Liverpool’s match at Manchester United today.
Goals by Gabriel Jesus and David Silva – separated by 95 seconds – helped Pep Guardiola respond after losing to Wolves before the international break.
With a makeshift back four, it easily could have been a tricky evening for the visitors, but they were at their silky best throughout to show the title race is nowhere near over. City lined up with midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri at the heart of defence after Nicolas Otamendi suffered a knock while on international duty with Argentina.
Kevin De Bruyne returned following a groin injury to make his first outing of the month and he helped the visitors immediately dictate play at Selhurst Park.
The champions were camped inside the Palace half early on and Wayne Hennessey was called into action in the 16th minute when he pushed away Bernardo Silva’s curling effort.
A slip by Rodri allowed Wilfried Zaha the chance to stretch his legs soon after, but Raheem Sterling slide in to deny the Ivory Coast winger a clear run.
City remained on top in the possession stakes and finally made it count six minutes before half-time. Bernardo Silva was afforded some time on the right and cut inside, before picking out Jesus and he stooped low and headed in via the post to score his 50th goal for City.
It was perfect timing for Guardiola’s men and it took them 95 more seconds
to make it 2-0 in front of the Homesdale Stand. City counter-attacked at pace and De Bruyne carried the ball forward, before play switched to Sterling and he provided a delightful scooped ball over the top of James Tomkins and Joel Ward for David Silva to run onto and volley expertly between Hennessey’s legs.
With 41 minutes on the clock, it looked like it could now be a long night for Palace, but they started brightly after the break with Cheikhou Kouyate firing over.
Sterling should have added to that tally, but hit a post from inside the area.
Christian Benteke entered the pitch and nearly found the net with his first touch, but Ederson produced a magnificent save to tip the header onto the crossbar.
De Bruyne hit a post not long after and Sterling swept wide, before Zaha had a fierce drive saved, but City comfortably saw out the final exchanges to close the gap to Liverpool.