Crystal Palace still upset the Cityzens. By failing to find the fault against the London formation (0-0), Monday, at the end of the 29th day, Manchester City risks seeing its lead over Liverpool melt away. After the Reds’ victory at Brighton on Saturday (2-0), the defending champions are only 4 points ahead of their pursuers who have one game less.
This meeting, Liverpool will play it on Wednesday, at Arsenal, and the gap could then be only one point, while an increasingly attractive Manchester City – Liverpool looms on the 32nd day.
Points shared at Selhurst Park #CRYMCI pic.twitter.com/QrSvmKCGYQ
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 14, 2022
Crystal Palace may only be in 11th place with 34 points, but Patrick Vieira’s men become the first team this season not to take a goal from the Cityzens, after winning 2-0 at the outward journey, at the end of October, to the Etihad. The Eagles are only the second team to go through a Premier League season without taking a goal from City since Pep Guardiola took over, after Manchester United last season.
As usual with the Sky Blues, the game was often reduced to an attack-defense where Pep Guardiola’s men tried an infinite number of offensive variations to break through the opposing wall. Very often, over 90 minutes, the accumulation of waves ends up winning the decision, but not this time.
Neither the brilliant paw kick – a whipped from outside the right – by Kevin De Bruyne on a bell ball from Joao Cancelo (26th), deflected above his bar by Vicente Guaita, nor the shot from the same Cancelo, two minutes later, came to smash on the post, did not hit the bull’s eye. A pivot shot from “KDB” was also repelled by the amount, before Riyad Mahrez sent his recovery over (56th).
And there was also this center with a line from Jack Grealish that Bernardo Silva, who had thrown himself a meter from goal, did not deviate enough for the ball to cross the line (71st).
With a little more skill, precision or composure in the last gesture, Palace could undoubtedly have claimed even better in this match. For Manchester City, perhaps this point so unsatisfactory Monday evening at the kick of final whistle will turn into a point that will make the difference at the end of the championship.
Tensions are rising at the top pic.twitter.com/hbgfhdabHk
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 14, 2022