Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City climbed to within five points of the top with a comfortable win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Two goals late in the first half courtesy of Gabriel Jesus and David Silva were enough to earn City three points, but there could have been significantly more. The chase is on for Manchester City as they attempt to chase down Premier League runaway leaders Liverpool, and they played with high intensity, making chance after chance.
The Premier League 2019 betting odds had the Sky Blues at 1.26 to win, and there was little doubt from the off. They were boosted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne, and he makes a big difference.
But they had a makeshift centre-back pairing of Fernandinho and Rodri, both world-class defensive midfielders but not defenders. They didn’t have a lot to do, but keeper Ederson was called on to make two great saves.
Highlights of the game
As City pressed from the off, David Silva had an early shot on goal, firing straight at Wayne Hennessey from just outside the box. De Bruyne was very lively and he put a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, which Gabriel Jesus was inches away from converting.
The Sky Blues had their hosts under intense pressure and Ilkay Gundogan’s shot was kept out by Hennessey’s outstretched foot. It seemed like a matter of time before City broke the deadlock.
But the Eagles defended well and the visitors had to wait until the 39th minute. Bernardo Silva put over a superb cross and Jesus converted via the inside of the post. It went in off his shoulder, but the Brazilian won’t mind that one bit.
If the first goal was a little bit scruffy, the second, which came just 30 seconds later, was a thing of beauty. After a swift attack with a rapid interchange of passes, Raheem Sterling flicked a delightful ball over the Palace defence, which David Silva volleyed home.
The Eagles had done so well to hold out for almost 40 minutes only to be dismantled before the break. We went for City to be ahead at half-time in our SBOBET tips, we had to wait… but the goals came eventually.
Palace had their first real attack early in the second half when Cheikhou Kouyate fed James McArthur, but he fired his shot well over.
Sterling came very close to adding a third with a low shot to Hennessey’s near post. There was also a VAR scare for the Eagles when De Bruyne fell under a challenge from Wilfried Zaha, but it looked like the Belgian had hung his foot out to initiate contact and Zaha escaped.
Hennessey then made an excellent save to deny Jesus and another to keep out a fierce drive from Bernardo Silva.
Roy Hodgson brought on Christian Benteke, who almost scored with his first touch, but Ederson tipped his header onto the crossbar.
Jesus should have teed up De Bruyne for the third, but he shot from an angle rather than rolling the ball across to his team-mate for an open goal. Then, De Bruyne glanced a header onto the post, and Sterling missed his shot when the Belgian teed him up.
Ederson had one more save to make when Zaha hit a fierce shot, but City ran out worthy and comfortable winners.
Key statistics
After wins for Chelsea and Leicester City in the earlier Premier League 2019 results of the day, Guardiola’s side started in the unfamiliar position of fourth, and a win for the hosts would have taken the Eagles above the champions.
Jesus has started in five matches for City this season and has scored in every one. And this was the fourth away game in succession in which he’s notched a goal.
The Eagles have scored just eight goals in their campaign so far this season, while City managed that number in one game against Watford!
The champions had 10 shots on target to Palace’s two, but despite the defeat, Roy Hodgson remains the only English manager to beat Pep Guardiola in the Premier League.
What’s next?
City’s shock defeat to Wolves before the international break gave the impetus in the title race to Liverpool, so this was an essential victory for Pep Guardiola. Now he’ll hope Manchester United can rediscover some form against the league leaders tomorrow.
The champions have two home games coming up next. First, they face Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday, and then they host Aston Villa next weekend. The Sky Blues then travel to Anfield on the 10th of November.
Palace have another tough assignment next, with a trip to the Emirates to face Unai Emery’s Arsenal at the start of a tough run which includes Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
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