De Bruyne injury scares City as run of wins ends
The world held its breath as City’s unbeatable tag faced a huge 90th minute threat... then Milivojevic fluffed his penalty leaving Blues’ fans relieved and Guardiola’s rivals facing a bleak new year
THE whole stadium held its breath.
These are the moments that define levels of greatness and football history.
Title favourites Manchester City had looked untouchable during their incredible 18-game winning run but suddenly this was the chance to prove they are human after all.
Up stepped Luka Milivojevic with a 90th-minute penalty for Palace and the chance to end City’s unbeaten run and their hopes of emulating Arsenal’s Invincibles. But, amid the high drama, Milivojevic fluffed his big moment, putting a tame penalty down the middle and allowing City keeper Ederson to block the ball with his legs.
The record-breaking winning run had gone but this was City’s Ruud van Nistelrooy moment.
Arsenal won the title unbeaten in 2004 and the biggest let-off was when former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy crashed a late penalty against the crossbar. City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed the notion of winning the title unbeaten but, make no mistake, he would love to do it and it has looked more likely with every thrilling victory.
But maybe Crystal Palace, in showing City are not unbeatable, have now given hope to every other club.
A bigger problem for the table-toppers, though, was the sight of Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus going off injured.
Jesus went off early in tears and left the ground on crutches having turned awkwardly and damaged knee ligaments. De Bruyne, surely the best player in the country this season, was the victim of an appalling challenge by Jason Puncheon.
City’s squad has coped so far but this will now be a test of resources. And Palace deserve credit for testing them.
Yes, City were well below their magnificent best and frustrations boiled over at times.
Leroy Sane was booked for kicking the ball away and he had an angry exchange with De Bruyne as passes went astray. But their comparative impotence owed much to the graft of the Palace players, who worked their socks off.
Milivojevic was superb in midfield, Wilfried Zaha gave Kyle Walker the hardest game he has had all season, and the relegationthreatened
Londoners were resilient in defence.
City substitute Sergio Aguero – on for Jesus – thought he had scored after 28 minutes when his shot was deflected off Jairo Riedewald but the ball ballooned up and crashed against the post.
City turned the pressure up a notch after half time but Palace began to threaten too.
Andros Townsend blazed a big chance over the bar after 78 minutes and it looked like their moment had gone.
However, Zaha – who is looking the real deal these days – ghosted past Danilo and Raheem Sterling, burst into the box, and went down under Sterling’s very soft challenge. Maybe there is an irony there.
But Ederson proved to be City’s hero, easily blocking Milivojevic’s tame spot-kick.
It was as De Bruyne raced away that Puncheon launched his terrible two-footed challenge (right) and injured himself in the process.
City left Selhurst Park battered and bruised. One record ended, another intact, and still 14 points ahead. ROY HODGSON stood tall where Jose Mourinho flopped by attacking Pep Guardiola’s side and wrecking City’s long winning streak.
Manchester United tried to contain the runaway Premier League leaders for 90 minutes and ended up losing by a single goal.
But despite City enjoying 74 per cent of possession at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace came out to play with the pace of Wilf Zaha a constant threat to the Blues.
Hodgson said: “I’m very pleased and very proud of the performance.
“It was excellent in terms of tactical which saw him leave the field in tears and hobble away on crutches.
City failed with a £60million bid for Sanchez in the summer after Arsenal could not discipline, commitment, focus, determination, concentration.
”You only need to fall asleep for a brief moment against a team of that quality and they punish you with the level of player they have.
“I thought our best chance would be to score some goals. But luckily we kept them at bay and could even have won with that penalty.”
BT pundit Graham Poll claimed Zaha should be the next player to face a retrospective ban for diving after the award of the late spot-kick.
But Hodgson argued:
“If the referee’s that close and has given the penalty then presumably he’s seen it as one.” find a replacement.
But with the Chilean out of contract in six months and looking increasingly unhappy at the Emirates, the Gunners would now be willing to take £25m for him.