Key Moments You Missed as Man City Dropped Points Against Crystal Palace
Manchester City continued their challenging Premier League run, earning just four points from their last 18 available and securing only one win in their last nine matches across all competitions. Facing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, the defending champions had a chance to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, whose match against Everton was postponed. Instead, they managed only a draw, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side frustrated.
Haaland Calls Out Walker
City’s start at Selhurst Park was disastrous for the second year in a row. Daniel Munoz capitalized on a defensive lapse, slotting past Stefan Ortega after Kyle Walker kept him onside. Despite City’s appeals for offside, replays confirmed Walker and another defender had played Munoz onside.
As the decision was reviewed by VAR, Erling Haaland was visibly unimpressed, gesturing and exchanging words with Walker, likely questioning his defensive positioning. Walker’s struggles continued as he failed to defend effectively on a second-half corner, leading to Palace’s second goal.
Possession Without Purpose
City dominated the second half, boasting an astonishing 93% possession in the first 12 minutes. However, their dominance failed to translate into meaningful chances. Instead, Bernardo Silva gave away possession with a blind pass, allowing Will Hughes to win a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, Maxence Lacroix headed home, with Walker once again losing his man. The defender compounded his poor display by blaming the referee instead of taking accountability.
Ruthless Mindset
A controversial moment arose when Ruben Dias outmaneuvered Jean-Philippe Mateta, who collided with Ortega and stayed down on the pitch. Despite calls for City to stop play, the team pressed forward.
City’s refusal to show sympathy sparked a heated exchange between Oliver Glasner and Pep Guardiola, but the referee allowed the game to continue, as Mateta wasn’t seriously injured. When Mateta eventually got up, City fans mockingly cheered his “recovery.” While this sequence didn’t result in a direct goal, it reflected City’s relentless approach.
A New Pre-Match Routine
City unveiled a fresh warm-up routine for their forwards, first introduced midweek and repeated at Selhurst Park. Instead of traditional shooting drills, forwards like Bernardo Silva, Savinho, and Matheus Nunes worked in scenarios designed to mimic potential match situations.
The drill paired wide players with Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, focusing on crosses, layoffs, and long-range shots. This innovative approach aimed to give players the freedom to prepare for real-game dynamics.
However, City’s defensive unit wasn’t afforded the same tailored preparation—a glaring issue given their struggles in this match.
Final Thoughts
City’s draw leaves them with more questions than answers. As Bernardo Silva and others have stressed, the team’s recent performances have fallen below their usual standards. With Liverpool’s lead still intact and City’s defensive frailties evident, Guardiola’s side has much to address if they hope to reignite their Premier League title charge.
