Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester City: champions held in frustrating draw

Manchester City missed their chance to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League as they were held by a resilient Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

City dominated proceedings, twice hitting the woodwork, while defender Aymeric Laporte failed to find the net with the goal at his mercy in the first half.

The result means Liverpool can cut City's lead to one point by beating Arsenal on Wednesday.

In front of a boisterous crowd, Palace frustrated their opponents although they created little themselves going forward.

A point keeps them 11th as they boosted their own hopes of a top-half finish.

A good night for fans of Palace - and Liverpool

Eight weeks ago, Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League was 13 points - although Liverpool, in third at the time, had two games in hand. After this draw in south London, the gap is now four points.

Liverpool have one game in hand over their rivals, with the pair still to play each other at Etihad Stadium in April.

Pep Guardiola's side were motivated from the off against Palace, with Joao Cancelo striking the post from range after 30 minutes and Laporte firing the rebound off target with the goal at his mercy.

Captain Kevin de Bruyne struck the base of the post midway through the second half, while Riyad Mahrez forced Palace keeper Vicente Guaita into a fine one-handed save on the follow-up.

And Bernardo Silva also failed to convert a fruitful opening late on, poking Jack Grealish's pass across goal narrowly wide on an off-night for City's forwards.

It was just the second time City have failed to score in the league this season - the first since they lost 2-0 to Palace in the reverse fixture in October.

The champions, who came in to this match having won 16 of their past 18 games, were made to rue their missed chances, and their players cut frustrated figures at the full-time whistle.

Eagles rise to the occasion

Palace are now unbeaten in their past five matches and go to within one point of 10th-placed Southampton as they continue to push for the top half.

Patrick Vieira's team were happy to sit back at Selhurst Park, and had a number of half-chances on the break, through Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise in the first half and Conor Gallagher after the restart.

Coming into this fixture, the hosts had picked up only one point from a possible 12 across their four home league fixtures in 2022.

But they were encouraged by their loud support and rode their luck at times, holding on against a usually ruthless Manchester City side.

Both sides now turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-finals next Sunday as Palace host Everton and City visit Southampton.

Player of the match

GallagherConor Gallagher

Crystal Palace

Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Squad number3Player nameMitchell

Squad number13Player nameGuaita

Squad number8Player nameKouyaté

Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

Squad number11Player nameZaha

Squad number22Player nameÉdouard

Squad number7Player nameOlise

Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

Squad number16Player nameAndersen

Squad number14Player nameMateta

Squad number17Player nameClyne

Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Guaita

17Clyne16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell

8Kouyaté15Schlupp

7Olise23Gallagher11Zaha

14Mateta

Substitutes

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

2Walker5Stones14Laporte27Cancelo

17De Bruyne16Rodri20Bernardo Silva

26Mahrez47Foden10Grealish

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 0.

Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 0.

Attempt missed. Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.

Attempt missed. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross following a set piece situation.

Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Kyle Walker (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace).

Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).

Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Odsonne Édouard.

Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace).

Attempt blocked. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cheikhou Kouyaté.

Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joachim Andersen.

Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

Foul by João Cancelo (Manchester City).

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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