Crystal Palace holds Manchester City to exert more pressure at the top

• Crystal Palace held Manchester City to a goalless draw at Etihad to exert more pressure at the Premier League summit
• The match played at Selhurst Park meant Manchester City are now just four points above second-placed Liverpool albeit the Reds having a game in hand
• Crystal Palace on the other end, have cemented their place in the 11th position as they seek their way up to the top half

Manchester City failed to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace on Monday.

Palace had been looking to complete a first league double over City since 1987-88 but settled simply for frustrating Pep Guardiola’s side, who went the closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Joao Cancelo hit the woodwork.

Kevin De Bruyne was also denied by the frame of the goal after the interval, with no late winner forthcoming at Selhurst Park to give City a four-point lead over Liverpool at the top.

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo reacts after hitting the woodwork in the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday, March 14 2022. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

The stalemate meant City moved just four points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand and are yet to play the champions at the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool will look to close the gap to just one point should they garner all the three points at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday when they visit Arsenal.

Michael Olise poked narrowly wide in the opening stages, while Bernardo Silva spurned a glorious chance after Vicente Guaita had spilt a De Bruyne strike at the other end.

De Bruyne then tested Guaita’s reactions with an audacious volley, before Cancelo cannoned against the left post with a thunderous long-range effort, with Aymeric Laporte squandering the inviting rebound inside the area.

Riyad Mahrez almost found the top-left corner with a left-footed curler, then De Bruyne struck the right post after the break with his low drive. Guaita tipped over from Mahrez on the follow-up, but a belated offside flag meant a breakthrough goal would not have stood.

Silva wasted another gilt-edged chance to nudge City ahead when he touched wide from Jack Grealish’s cross, while Laporte failed to make clean contact with a close-range header late on.

Conor Gallagher could even have stolen victory as his shot from a tight angle rose over Ederson’s goal in stoppage time.

Manchester City will next be in action on Sunday 20 March when they visit Southampton at the St Mary’s Park for an FA Cup clash. On the same day, Palace will entertain Everton in the same cup at Selhurst Park.