MANCHESTER CITY BRUSHED aside in-form Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday to narrow the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to five points.
The defending champions travelled to London with questions over their ability to sustain a title challenge after two defeats in four league games but produced some incisive football without applying their usual killer touch.
Pep Guardiola’s team were quickly into their stride against Roy Hodgson’s men, dominating possession and forcing Palace onto the back foot but they did not break the deadlock until shortly before half-time.
City were rewarded for their dominance in the 39th minute when Bernardo Silva whipped in a left-footed cross. Gabriel Jesus shaped to head the ball but it came off his shoulder and crept into the net off the far post past a rooted Wayne Hennessey.
They doubled their lead just two minutes later following a speedy counter-attack.
When the ball came to Raheem Sterling he produced a delightful chip from just inside the area into the path of David Silva, who watched it drop over his left shoulder before guiding it into the net.
Palace occasionally looked threatening, with Wilfried Zaha a flickering menace, but failed to make the most of their few opportunities to test City’s back four.
Jesus was preferred to Sergio Aguero while Riyad Mahrez was also missing from the starting side, with Fernandinho and Rodri at the heart of defence.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with City in charge. Kevin De Bruyne was denied a penalty after a VAR check backed up the referee’s original decision not to award a spot-kick.
Jesus forced a smart save from Hennessey before Bernardo Silva forced Hennessey into a one-handed save with a curling left-foot shot from the angle.
Hodgson threw on Christian Benteke for Luka Milivojevic with about 15 minutes to go and the Belgian almost scored with his first touch, rising highest to head the ball goalwards from a corner only to see Ederson push the ball onto the crossbar.
City should have killed the game off moments later but Jesus failed to square the ball to the unmarked De Bruyne.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who have a perfect record of eight wins out of eight games, can restore their eight-point lead if they beat Manchester United on Sunday.
City’s next two Premier League games against Aston Villa and Southampton look winnable but they face a crucial match against Liverpool at Anfield on 10 November.
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They had a phenomenal year? They lost the six nations to Tv3? He’s deluded
@Darragh Flynn:
Is that how you evaluate achievement? By who has the most money?
No and I’m a fan of a lot of sports, but losing rights of two of the biggest sports viewer pullers (RWC & 6N) to your national rival is certainly not an achievement. They’ll miss the viewer figures when they’re gone.
But hes obviously focusing on what coverage they have delivered on (thats what he was saying was excellent), not what they were outbidded on? Im not saying they WERE excellent but thought you were aimimg at the wrong point
Ireland beating the All Blacks was the sporting highlight of the year for me …. watched on an iPad then free on Eir then had to watch a montage the next week on RTE before the Canada game including fake commentary on the historic match they didn’t show …. load of shite
RTÉ’s soccer and GAA coverage is beyond sh!te. Same tired old muppets churning out the same crap year after year. I’d rather pay to watch decent coverage.
Ahhh…God love poor Ryle, he gets upset at a little criticism. Have to agree to with @Niall, the RTE soccer pundits plus the GAA football pundits are long overdue a shake up. The hurling pundits are the best of a bad lot. As for George Hook and his rugger buggers……???
@Niall McNamara:
pay to watch jaime redknapp or micheal owen? Every station has poor pundits(or ones you disagree with) but you’re doing a blanket statement which is idiotic. Hamann is probably the best pundit out there and where is he…..RTE
George retired – Shane Horgan, ROG and Brent Pope are all excellent
When it comes to GAA and Rugbaí. TG4 are streets ahead. If I heard Hugh Cahill commentating, I’d break my own rule and watch it on a Brit channel.
We should just give the award to everybody who played sport this year! Why narrow it down to one?
@Conor Paddingto:
Well that has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read.
@Just Some Guy: sarcasm frequently appears that way to the uninitiated. 8 nominees, no one there unjustly and an endless moan about who isn’t on the list. Silliness.
Up yours Ryle
He is the worst commentator of the whole lot including sky sports!!! How he has kept the job is amazing given the amount of people that have the same opinion….oh wait he gives himself the job as head of sport. What’s his KPI’s
Congrats to all nominated and all but only 2 people who should win this are Frampton or McGregor. Won world titles. Don’t think frampton has the support in Ireland to win a vote so McGregor it is. Will he turn up. Surprised McIlroy wasn’t nominated had a pretty good year but he did win it the other year so maybe they thought if nominated he would win it again. Though boycott of Olympics would have hit his popularity in public votes
So what was the criteria then?
Agree he’s deluded and interesting to see the wide spectrum of fans who think the same. They give no support to any LOI teams in Europe – Eir Sport stepped in and gave excellent coverage to Dundalk European adventure and id love them to get hold of the LOI and stick it on free to air
The only thing good about RTE’s lack of rugby coverage is that we don’t have to listen Ryle’s poor commentary too often. Usually turn sound down and listen to Michael Corcoran.
Sully