MANCHESTER CITY CRYSTAL PALACE ANDROS THE KOP HERO Jurgen & Co toast Townsend as he topples City
LIVERPOOL were the real winners as champions and title favourites Manchester City suffered a shock defeat.
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who arrive at the Etihad in 12 days for a title showdown, maintained their four-point lead over City, thanks to Crystal Palace securing a famous victory.
It was 28 years to the day since Palace last registered a league victory in Manchester. And Liverpool fans looking for an omen will note that was the year – 1990 – when they last won the title.
Palace gave Liverpool’s title push a huge boost with this deserved win, which included a stunning contender for goal of the season f rom Andros Townsend, a breathtaking 30-yard volley that will be hard for any player to better.
To put this result into context, this was City’s first defeat to a side outside the Premier League’s top six since a 4-0 beating at Everton in January 2017, a run of 52 games.
And a second Premier League d e f eat in three games, f o l l o wi n g their 2-0 loss at Chelsea, has 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.
Whi l e 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 look convincing or comfortable there, while the introduction of De Bruyne, who galvanised City when he came on and scored to give them hope, came too late for them to salvage anything from the game.
All over the pitch, City had players who fell short. From the normallyreliable keeper Ederson, the hapless Kyle Walker – who gave away a penalty and was blanked by Guardiola as he left the pitch at the final whistle – to the misfiring front three of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, City had a collective shocker.
But Palace deserved credit for taking full advantage of such an off-day for City. Roy Hodgson’s side played with enterpr i se, discipline and industry, and held firm at the end when City put t hem unde r sustained pressure in search of an equaliser.
City began with a swagger, with Hodgson (right) seeing his men pegged back in their own half. Leroy Sane hit the side netting from a tight angle after being put through on goal by Bernardo Silva, as the hosts laid siege to the Palace goal, with no indication of the upset that was to unfold.
Sterling and Bernardo both had shots charged down, as the hosts assumed control early on and were quick to thwart any counter-attack from their opponents.
A City goal was coming and it duly arrived in the 27th minute. Fabian Delph picked out Ilkay Gundogan and the midfielder ghosted into the six-yard box to direct a header beyond the reach of Vicente Guaita.
That looked to be the platform for City to fully assert their superiority and see off their opponents, but Palace had other ideas and Hodgson’s side drew level six minutes later.
There seemed little danger when Jef f rey Schlupp picked up possession on the edge of the area after a Stones tackle on James Mcarthur sent the ball straight into his path.
Schlupp took full advantage of Walker’s hesitant defending, creating space to drill a low, angled shot that gave Ederson no chance as it nestled in the far corner.
City were still reeling from that setback when they f ound themselves behind two minutes ■ Manchester City have lost two of their last three Premier League games – as many as in their previous 61 combined. later. Again, there seemed nothing on when Bernardo headed the ball out, but Townsend struck the sweetest volley and Ederson was once again powerless to keep it out.
The champions, out of sorts and lacking their usual f l uency, were stunned and Guardiola waited just a few minutes into the second half before making a change, bringing on Aguero for Nicolas Otamendi.
That meant Stones, out of his depth in midfield, switched back to his more familiar central defensive role, with Aguero leading the attack alongside Jesus.
But City’s task was made even harder six minutes after the restart when Walker made a rash challenge, in keeping with his woeful display, to clip Max Meyer and concede a penalty.
Walker protested his innocence but referee Andre Marriner was in no doubt and pointed to the spot. Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic stepped up to beat Ederson and make it 3-1.
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 which dipped under the bar and over the line.
But it proved to be false hope, as Palace held on for a famous victory, celebrated by the red half of Merseyside, too.
They can capitalise further on City’s slip-up when they arrive at the Etihad on January 3. ■ Crystal Palace registered their first away league win at Man City since December 1990, having drawn three and lost nine.