Man City’s run ends as Palace hold on to a draw

LONDON: Luka Milivojevic had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Crystal Palace missed the chance to halt Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the season, although the Premier League leaders’ winning run has been stopped at 18 following the goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

Pep Guardiola’s men went into the match one win away from equalling the record for successive wins in Europe’s top five leagues - set by Bayern Munich but they were ultimately frustrated by a well-drilled Palace side who were only denied all three points by Ederson’s heroics at the end.

City showed two sides to their game in the first half, as they created a few good chances with some expansive football.

But there was also palpable frustration on show, with Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane, who was booked for petulantly kicking the ball away at the end of a poor first half.

City appeared more switched on again after Raheem Sterling’s introduction in the 57th minute, adding a little extra spark.

But it was Palace who came closest to clinching the win following a Sterling foul on Wilfried Zaha, but Ederson was equal to Milivojevic’s effort from the spot, leaving City 14 points clear of Chelsea.

UNITED SLIP TO THIRD

MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s dismal run of results in December continued with a third consecutive Premier League draw as they were held 0-0 at home to Southampton on Saturday, dropping to third.

United had Romelu Lukaku carried off early in the game and looked stricken of any creativity in attack, ending the month with four wins from nine matches in all competitions and without a victory in last four.

Mourinho insisted his side had deserved to win the game and criticised referee Craig Pawson for not giving a penalty in the first half .

“I think we played enough to win, with all the difficulties. We started the game and we lost the striker and we lost one of only two changes I have on the bench in attacking areas,” Mourinho told a news conference.