Manchester City made a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace

Manchester City made a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace. 

LONDON: Manchester City was held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace on Monday, adding another dramatic twist to the Premier League title chase.

With City’s nearest rivals, Liverpool, having closed the deficit to three points with their win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Liverpool’s eighth consecutive league win, the champions were under pressure to respond.

City dominated the first half at Selhurst Park but could not breakthrough. Joao Cancelo rattled the post in the first half, and Kevin De Bruyne rattled it again after the interval, as the visitors were disappointed time and time again.

Pep Guardiola’s side threw everything at Palace late in the game. Still, it could not produce a winner, dropping two crucial points in their quest for a fourth league title in five seasons.

Because of the stalemate, Liverpool can close to within one point of City if they win their game in hand against Arsenal on Wednesday, fuelling hopes that the title battle will be decided at the last minute.

“In football, luck doesn’t exist,” Guardiola told the BBC. “We needed to score goals, but we failed to do so.

“We wanted to score as many goals as possible while allowing as few as possible to be conceded. We had some difficulties. The crew there today was present previously and will be present again in the upcoming game. I’m very happy with how we played and how we performed.”

City quickly settled into their rhythm and controlled possession, as they typically do in South London, producing several enticing early opportunities, the most blatant of which was missed by Bernardo Silva.

Aymeric Laporte, another defender who appeared to have left his shooting boots at home, blasted over with the goal at his mercy, reacting first to the rebound after Cancelo’s long-range drive had hit the post.

On the break, Palace looked dangerous, with Wilfried Zaha shooting wide from an excellent position. Still, it was one-way traffic, with City scoring 14 goals in the first half.

The last team to keep City from scoring in the Premier League was Palace in October. Another shutout appeared on the cards as City’s chances came and went.

De Bruyne’s swerving second-half strike came back off the post, and Mahrez was denied a stunning save from Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita on the rebound.

Silva came close to getting on the end of a fizzing low cross but was a fraction too late, with City putting a little too much emphasis on passes or taking an additional touch at crucial moments.

Palace dug in and held on to extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions to stay in 11th place. Still, it will be the fans on Merseyside who will be celebrating the most.

“You have to allow opportunities when you play against City,” Palace manager Patrick Vieira told the BBC. “It’s all about luck on the day, but it’s also about working together as a team.