Manchester City missed their chance to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League as they were held by a resilient Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
City dominated proceedings, twice hitting the woodwork, while defender Aymeric Laporte failed to find the net with the goal at his mercy in the first half.
The result means Liverpool can cut City’s lead to one point by beating Arsenal on Wednesday.
In front of a boisterous crowd, Palace frustrated their opponents although they created little themselves going forward.
A point keeps them 11th as they boosted their own hopes of a top-half finish.
- Relive Crystal Palace’s match with Manchester City
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A good night for fans of Palace – and Liverpool
Eight weeks ago, Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League was 13 points – although Liverpool, in third at the time, had two games in hand. After this draw in south London, the gap is now four points.
Liverpool have one game in hand over their rivals, with the pair still to play each other at Etihad Stadium in April.
Pep Guardiola’s side were motivated from the off against Palace, with Joao Cancelo striking the post from range after 30 minutes and Laporte firing the rebound off target with the goal at his mercy.
Captain Kevin de Bruyne struck the base of the post midway through the second half, while Riyad Mahrez forced Palace keeper Vicente Guaita into a fine one-handed save on the follow-up.
And Bernardo Silva also failed to convert a fruitful opening late on, poking Jack Grealish’s pass across goal narrowly wide on an off-night for City’s forwards.
The champions, who came in to this match having won 16 of their past 18 games, were made to rue their missed chances, and their players cut frustrated figures at the full-time whistle.
The Blues have failed to score against Palace in both league games this season, with the reverse fixture in October finishing 2-0 to Palace.
Eagles rise to the occasion
Palace are now unbeaten in their past five matches and go to within one point of 10th-placed Southampton as they continue to push for the top half.
Patrick Vieira’s team were happy to sit back at Selhurst Park, and had a number of half-chances on the break, through Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise in the first half and Conor Gallagher after the restart.
Coming into this fixture, the hosts had picked up only one point from a possible 12 across their four home league fixtures in 2022.
But they were encouraged by their loud support and rode their luck at times, holding on against a usually ruthless Manchester City side.
Both sides now turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-finals next Sunday as Palace host Everton and City visit Southampton.
Player of the match
GallagherConor Gallagher
with an average of 8.29
Crystal Palace
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Squad number23Player nameGallagher
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Squad number3Player nameMitchell
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Squad number13Player nameGuaita
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Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
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Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
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Squad number11Player nameZaha
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Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
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Squad number7Player nameOlise
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number16Player nameAndersen
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Squad number14Player nameMateta
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Squad number17Player nameClyne
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Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Manchester City
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Squad number31Player nameEderson -
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne -
Squad number5Player nameStones -
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo -
Squad number26Player nameMahrez -
Squad number2Player nameWalker -
Squad number14Player nameLaporte -
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva -
Squad number47Player nameFoden -
Squad number16Player nameRodri
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Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Guaita
- 17Clyne
- 16Andersen
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 23GallagherBooked at 83mins
- 8KouyatéBooked at 44mins
- 15Schlupp
- 7OliseSubstituted forJ Ayewat 65′minutes
- 14MatetaSubstituted forÉdouardat 65′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 2Ward
- 5Tomkins
- 9J Ayew
- 10Eze
- 19Matthews
- 20Benteke
- 22Édouard
- 44Riedewald
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 14Laporte
- 27Cancelo
- 17De Bruyne
- 16Rodri
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 26Mahrez
- 47Foden
- 10GrealishBooked at 54mins
Substitutes
- 6Aké
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 11Zinchenko
- 13Steffen
- 25Fernandinho
- 33Carson
- 79Mbete
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
- Attendance:
- 25,309
Live Text
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Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 0.
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Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 0.
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Attempt missed. Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.
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Attempt missed. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Kyle Walker (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace).
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Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).
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Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Odsonne Édouard.
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Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace).
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Attempt blocked. Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cheikhou Kouyaté.
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Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
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Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joachim Andersen.
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Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
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Foul by João Cancelo (Manchester City).
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Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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