Patrick Vieira’s coached Crystal Palace seemed to have the DNA of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, upsetting the champions for the second time in a league season.
After beating City 2-0 on their home turf 30 October 2021, they held their own again Monday night, holding City to a goalless draw.
Crystal Palace have thus become the only Premier League team that kept a clean sheet against Manchester City twice this season.
And it was their first time since 1995.
It was also closest to their first league double over City in 1987-88
With the draw, City failed to restore their six-point lead at the Premier League summit.
City dominated possession 74-26, but they were not lucky at the goal.
City’s Joao Cancelo almost scored in the first half, but his shot rattled 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.
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.
They have now handed an incentive to chasers Liverpool, who will meet Arsenal on Wednesday at the Emirates. – Agency report.
