So, a new year, and - bar one moment of play in the 90th minute - perhaps as bad a day as Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are going to suffer this season. It could also hold real consequences for the season.
A brilliant Ederson save from a Luka Milivojevic penalty preserved their unbeaten record in this 0-0 draw at a concrete-hard Crystal Palace, but their winning run stops at 18, and both Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus went off with what looked like concerning injuries.
The Belgian had his hands on his head as he lay on a stretcher after an atrocious challenge by Jason Puncheon, while Brazilian team-mate left in tears. Much of this is relative given there is already talk that City will go out now and sign Alexis Sanchez, and they remain en route to the title. Nonetheless, they have not had such worries since the 1-1 against Everton earlier in the season and rarely looked impressive here at Selhurst Park.
That was down to a very impressive Palace. Roy Hodgson got his game-plan absolutely spot on, with every percentage play coming off, bar the final millimetres in attack. That could have of course could have been so different had Milivojevic put his penalty a few millimetres to the other side, but Palace have potentially shown a different path for everyone else this season.
One of the remaining points of interest in City’s procession to the title is the best way to actually try and get a point off them, and how to nullify their attack.
As was so illustrated in the debate after Newcastle United’s 1-0 defeat, the fundamental dilemma is one of balance. Managers have to work out a way of frustrating City and congesting the defence, but also give them enough to think about in their own high defence to take some of the sting out of their front men. Go too far one way and you invite them to do the inevitable in what seems a submissive performance. Go too far the other way and you instead grant them the freedom of your own half.
Hodgson, however, made those two halves meet so much better than most - especially in the first half. Palace were keeping City’s exposed defence on edge through the pace of Wilf Zaha, but were also impressively sharp any time that Guardiola’s attack got forward. Even though it often looked like there was suddenly space to surge into, players like Patrick van Aanholt, James Tomkins and Jairo Riedewald were more than often quick enough to get a foot in. The balance was taut, but they were doing it.
That they were mostly doing it without Scott Dann was even more impressive. The captain had typically been leading every Palace defensive move in the early stages, before having to unfortunately go off on a stretcher after just 20 minutes, to be replaced by Martin Kelly.
It said much that Guardiola decided to switch the positions of Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne so early on, and the Belgian has rarely been reduced to the fringes of a match so much this season.
Even City’s closest opportunity came from Palace’s defensive sharpness, as another impressive Riedewald interception deflected substitute Sergio Aguero’s shot onto the post.
Another part of that dilemma, however, is that you also have to balance the use of your energy. Executing that taut game-plan against such an excellent side takes a lot of effort, and the flipside is that you will tire as a match goes on.
That was when Leroy Sane forced a fine save off Wayne Hennessey, City had another effort cleared just in front of the goal, and De Bruyne had another shot blocked by Kelly.
It was that stage in the game when Palace were stepping back deeper and deeper, with Guardiola also bringing on Raheem Sterling to give City more angles.
And yet the natural balance of the match meant there was then an expanse of space in behind, that the home side probably should have exploited. One rare late attack saw the ball flash across the area towards a completely free Andros Townsend, only for the winger to completely snatch at the chance and send it high over the bar.
It was that space that saw Zaha finally make a run that brought a nudge from Sterling for the penalty, only for Ederson to stand so strong by getting down well.
That didn’t change the score, then, but what happened next might yet cause changes for this season, with Puncheon putting De Bruyne out of the game after an reckless challenge.
Against that and what happened with Jesus, winning records feel all too insignificant.
- More about:
- Crystal Palace FC
- Manchester City
- Premier League
Reuse content