Manchester City player ratings v Crystal PalaceManchester City player ratings v Crystal Palace
Manchester City player ratings v Crystal Palace | AFP via Getty Images
Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis were on target for Manchester City in the 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.
Manchester City dropped more points in the Premier League after being held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace on Saturday.
It was another display that underlined how far the reigning champions are off their regal best. Too many mistakes at the back cost the team again, as did a lack of tempo in possession and cutting edge in the offensive third of the pitch.
The team’s defensive frailties have been exposed time and again this season - even in the win over Nottingham Forest there were several concerning moments in a comfortable 3-0 win.
It took just four minutes for City to be cut open at Selhurst. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol pushed forward, leaving a chasm at the heart of the City defence. Will Hughes exposed it with a perfect through ball into the path of Daniel Munoz, who was played onside by Kyle Walker. His shot could - and probably should - have been saved by Stefan Ortega, but the ball squeezed under the keeper’s outstretched arm.
After the positive result in midweek the wind had very much been taken out of City’s sails, even with Strom Darragh whipping around Selhurst Park. It was Palace who looked more likely to grab the game’s next goal. Ismaila Sarr shot over from the edge of the box and Jefferson Lerma saw an effort blocked by Dias’ excellent tackle.
City’s only effort of note in the first quarter of the game came via Erling Haaland, who smashed his sliding effort right into the face of the advancing Dean Henderson. It took until Ilkay Gundogan rattled the post in the 23rd minute for the champions to wake up. The German’s left-foot strike clipped the bottom of the post and bounced back out to Savinho, who fired high and wide.
Suddenly City were playing with more vigour and penetration, provided mainly by Kevin De Bruyne and Matheus Nunes. It was the latter’s perfectly flighted cross that got City on level terms. He picked out Haaland, who outmuscled Marc Guehi and headed beyond Dean Henderson, who came out of his goal and got nowhere near the ball.
Savinho shot over from a City counter-attack in the final opening of an underwhelming first 45. And like the first period, City started the second slowly and conceded a soft goal.
Maxence Lacroix rose highest in the box and nodded in from a corner in the latest episode of City’s lacklustre defending. This time it was Walker at fault, who failed to track the run and didn’t even jump to try and win the ball.
But again like the first half, City soon settled into more of a rhythm and retained possession well without carrying much threat. But the Blues did manage to eke out a chance when Bernardo Silva flicked the ball into the path of Rico Lewis. He finished emphatically to level the score.
It was a mixed afternoon for the 20-year-old, who was shown a second yellow card soon after. The first for dissent will annoy Guardiola, while the second was harsh and could easily have been a foul the other way as Trevoh Chalobah and Lewis jumped in for the ball and caught each other.
It set up a nervous finish but no chances in a disappointing end to the game. Here’s how we rated the players.
Stefan Ortega- 5
Should have saved Palace’s opener and nearly let the ball slip from his grasp later in the half. Ortega’s distribution also caused a small on-field disagreement with Dias.
Kyle Walker- 4
Played Munoz onside for the opening goal of the game and didn’t manage to stop Lacroix’s header for Palace’s second. Another day that highlighted the defender’s worryingly sharp decline.
Ruben Dias- 6
Made some good defensive interventions but was partly at fault for the opening goal. Dias was City’s best defender on a disappointing day.
Josko Gvardiol- 5
Another who was shaky for City and seemed to lack confidence in possession.
Rico Lewis- 5 (off 84)
Took his goal well and made several forages into the Palace half. Lewis’ passing was a little off though and he looked tired. The red card was harsh and rules him out of the Manchester derby next week.
Ilkay Gundogan- 5
Had a few decent efforts at goal including one that hit the post. Gundogan saw a lot of the ball but didn’t do much with it other than passing sideways.
Bernardo Silva- 6
Set up Lewis’ goal with a lovely deft flick into his path. It was his best contribution in a performance that lacked many moments of real quality. Silva did bring energy to the City midfield, as has tended to be the case this season.
Kevin De Bruyne- 6 (off 86)
A mixed display. There were plenty of good moments but De Bruyne also gave the ball away far too far often and misplaced a few relatively simple passes.
Savinho- 5 (off 79)
Didn’t have a huge affect on the game. Savinho did link well with Walker down the right but could have provided more of a threat. It was no surprise when he was replaced late on.
Erling Haaland- 7
Scored a brilliant header and was unfortunate to see an early effort saved by Henderson. After dropping deep against Forest, this was typical Haaland, who remained high up the pitch throughout.
Matheus Nunes- 6
Looked sharp down the left and linked well with team-mates. Nunes set up Haaland’s header with a brilliant cross and ended the game at right-back after Lewis’ red card.
Subs: Jeremy Doku (on 79), Jack Grealish (on 86).
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