Manchester City vs Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium
Powered by:
FT
Etihad Stadium
Referee : Graham Scott
18th January 2020 3:00 PM (GMT)
-
2 Manchester City
- ‘82' Sergio Agüero
- ‘87' Sergio Agüero
-
2 Crystal Palace
- ‘39' Cenk Tosun
- ‘90' Fernandinho (OG)
#mancity
Commentary By Caroline Oatway @Roline_MCFC
Not our day 😣
That's all from me.
See you again on Tuesday night for our Premier League trip to high-flying Sheffield United.
Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Take care.
📊
Mendy on Aguero 💬
"Aguero is a striker that is recognised in all the world.
"We are so happy to have him on this team. We share the best for him
"We have to keep going in this way."
Benjamin Mendy 💬
"Football is like this - that's why it's beautiful.
"At the end of the game, we are all angry and sad. I think we deserved more.
"In the first half, we could have scored with a lot of chances. They defended well - we know they have quality.
"In the second, half, we came back nicely with the 2-1, but after that, in the last minute they scored again."
(On Aguero's second goal - and his assist): "The feeling, the atmosphere... we believed we could score.
"We were winning the game. The emotion was crazy.
"In football, you have to be focused until the end. For one or two seconds, we were not ready and anything can happen.
"We tried to play like Man City play. Today, we drew and we need to forget the game and look forward."
👑👑👑
Superb performance by this man today 👏
Didn't deserve to be on the losing side.
FULL-TIME ⏱
That's that.
Late heartbreak for City, as a Fernandinho own-goal salvages a point for Palace, who had taken the lead through Tosun.
Superb fightback from the Champions to turn the game on its head through two super Sergio Aguero strikes - his first the 250th City goal of his career - but we couldn't hold on...
Come on! 🙏
Five minutes added...
Absolute suckerpunch 😖
Feels like the Newcastle game all over again - we work so hard to get ourselves in front and it's taken away almost instantly late on.
Hurts.
City change 🔄
Just prior to the leveller, Rodrigo replaced Sterling.
Goal for Palace.
I don't believe it!
Zaha drives in a cross, which deflects in off Ferna.
Devastating.
Mendy's cross 😍
He's deserved that.
The Frenchman with the perfect delivery and Aguero leaps to head into the far corner to spark scenes of absolute jubilation at the Etihad!
(I actually jumped out of my seat to hug my colleague. Professional!)
GGGGGOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! AGUEROOOOOO!!!
YYYYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The G O A T 🐐
Oooh! 😯
De Bruyne looks to bend one to the top corner.
Not far away!
All about the cross! 😍
The strikers combine perfectly, as Gabriel Jesus clips a teasing delivery to the far post and who else but Aguero slides in to level?!
Let's go for the winner!!!
AGUEROOOOOOOOO!!!! 1-1!!!
FINALLYYYYY!!! GET IN THERE!!!
250 GOALS FOR AGUEROOOO!!!
Palace change 🔄
Tosun replaced by Wickham.
Keep battling! 💪
City pressing and pressing in a bid to turn the screw but it's just not happening for us at the moment. Still not testing Guaita enough..
Mendy still having a positive impact - he's just done brilliantly to win the ball back twice in a dangerous area on the left.
Keep plugging away, lads.
Wayward ➡
Mahrez goes for the spectacular with his first touch but he skews well over.
Should have taken a touch in hindsight!
City change 🔄
Mahrez comes on for Bernardo.
OVERTURNED! 😰
VAR says no penalty!!!
PENALTY TO CITY!!!
Handball!
Riedewald tries to block the cross. The ball hits his foot and then his hand.
Referee says penalty... VAR checking...
Gah! 😕
Ferna with a daisy-cutter, which drags wide.
City forcing the issue at the moment - no need. Frustration in the air.
Calm it down, gain control; the chances will come.
🤞
Almost! 😮
Gabriel Jesus is close to making an instant impact but the angle proves too narrow and he blazes the wrong side of the near post.
City change 🔄
David Silva makes way for Gabriel Jesus.
Fernandinho takes the captain's armband.
Eeek! 😬
Zaha the next to go in search of a second for Palace - they're looking very dangerous on the counter.
His low shot is comfortably gathered by Ederson.
Yellow card 🔶
Back at ya...
Mendy goes into the book for blocking Ayew's venture forward.
A let-off! ⚠
Tosun with another chance, as he lets fly on the half-volley. Thankfully, it's straight at Ederson, who pushes over.
The corner comes to nothing.
Saved! ⛔
Bernardo denied by Guaita, who comes flying out to deny the Portugal star.
Argh! 😑
Sterling with a great chance, as he collects Silva's pass and looks to curl into the top corner (as per Southampton at home - you know the one...) but he can't wrap his foot around it enough and the effort flies wide.
Bright start to the half from City though...
Meanwhile, during the HT break... 🏆
SECOND HALF ⏱
We're back under way.
Big performance needed...
Come on, City!
HALF-TIME ⏱
That brings the end to the half.
A half we've absolutely controlled - bar one moment - and we find ourselves trailing with Palace's only attack of note.
Football, eh?
Save! 🧤
Bernardo with a powerful effort, which Guaita pushes over the bar!
Good response.
Sorry... 😣
I take full responsibility for that Palace goal, as I'd just posted about how dominant we'd been.
My fault. I should have known not to tempt fate. I hold my hands up. Blame me.
WOAH! 😳
Palace have the ball in the net again, as Tosun beats Ederson to the ball - but he fouls Fernandinho as the pair chase the loose ball, before slotting into the net.
Referee spotted the foul. Disallowed.
Goal for Palace.
Curse of the commentator...
Tosun breaks the deadlock with a free header, as the visitors net completely against the run of play from a corner.
😂
One-way traffic 🚦
City so in control of this one... but we've created little in terms of clear-cut chances.
A little lacking in the final third - one touch too many or a cross just too high.
Cancelo just delivered a teasing one to the far post but no-one took a chance...
Need to sharpen up slightly but no cause for concern just yet.
Over the top ⬆
Bernardo clips a cross to Sterling (now playing on the left) at the backpost but he can't divert it on target.
Yellow card 🔶
Second Palace booking. Ayew this time for a trip on Mendy.
He's been our best attacking threat so far 👌
Just too high! ⬆
Sterling does well to escape his man and whip in a dangerous delivery - Aguero jumps but can't connect!
Me, every game:
Blocked! ⛔
Mendy with a lovely ball through to David Silva.
He tries his luck but the shot is blocked well by Cahill.
No penalty ❌
Zaha goes down under pressure from Stones but referee Graham Scott waves away the protests.
Looked to be some contact in truth but VAR confirmed no penalty.
Chance! 😮
De Bruyne then plays in Aguero but the angle is narrow and Guaita is out to block.
City well on top.
Off the crossbar! 😩
Absolutely sensational effort by De Bruyne!
His long-range free-kick curls beautifully towards the top corner but crashes off the woodwork!
Yellow card 🔶
First booking goes to McArthur, as he scythes down Aguero in a promising area...
Argh! 😑
Almost a chance for Kun in the box but he's quickly surrounded and the ball is trapped, denying him a shot on goal. Question whether it touched a hand but nothing given.
Better! 👏
There we go.
Bernardo calls the Palace 'keeper into action, as Guaita gathers a cross at the near post with Aguero lurking.
Encouraging 👍
City thoroughly dominant in these opening exchanges.
Yet to test Guaita though...
Wide of the mark! ➡
De Bruyne looks to drill a low effort first-time into the corner but it's off-target!
Oooh! 😯
Very positive start by City, with Mendy already delivering two crosses into the box.
The latter certainly the better of the two but it was just too high for Sterling at the far post.
Promising...
KICK-OFF ⚽
David Silva starts us off...
Come on, City!!!
A reminder of our City starting XI 🗒
Here we go 🙌
Out come the two teams.
Time for the formalities of the handshakes and then we'll be about ready to get under way...
Our last meeting... ⚽⚽
🧙♂️
300 Premier League appearances for El Mago! 💙
Enter 👇👇👇
Competition time 🤩
To celebrate his hat-trick record, PUMA have presented Aguero with a pair of special edition ONE boots, complete in the colours of Manchester City.
Sergio is wearing them today,, while we have another signed pair to give away to one lucky City fan!
Embossed with the words "Three" and "Hat-trick" this super-exclusive prize has been signed by the man himself and comes in a special presentation case.
Home comforts? 🏟
Aiming for a fourth straight home league victory, City could also win four consecutive league games for the first time this season.
We have won nine of their past 10 matches in all competitions, scoring 32 goals.
Roy Hodgson 💬
"We're expecting City to dominate possession, like they always do.
"They'll put us under a lot of pressure so we'll need all 11 players to bring their straw our to the water and try to stifle them as much as we can,.
"(When we won last season), we defended very well and worked very hard.
"Even in the home games, we tried to be compact and keep our shape, disciplined.
"We're playing against one of the two best teams - not just in the league but - in the whole of Europe.
"You do what you do in terms of planning but you have to come to terms with the fact they have enormously good players and they know exactly what they want to do with the technical and athletic ability to pull it off.
"You're always on a wing and a prater but we'll work hard."
👀
King Kev 👑
Kevin De Bruyne has had a hand in eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace for City, with two strikes and six assists.
The Belgian''s 15 assists in all competitions this season is five more than any other Premier League player.
Team news and tactics ⬇
Pep Guardiola on squad rotation 💬
"We have a game in three days - another tough one with Sheffield United away.
"In the last two games, we are almost all fit. I am sad for the people not in the squad. We try to involve everyone.
"Against United, we played 11 players and against Aston Villa, six or seven new players.
"Today, we changed it again and in the next game, we will change it again.
"Palace are a solid team with incredible talent upfront. They are incredibly organised at set-pieces and they try to move quick and play quick.
"It will be intense but we will try to win the game and secure second place.
"We must improve for the rest of the season."
Palace team news 🗒
📣 CITY TEAM NEWS 📣
Joao Cancelo 💬
"We are in good shape, winning a few games in a row, and we are also playing well.
"We've deserved the wins, especially the last one against Aston Villa. We played really well.
"We have to keep focused, winning games and chasing Liverpool. It will be difficult to chase them but we have to keep going and see where it takes us come the end of the season.
"I've been playing more regularly and I feel fine.
"With the help of the manager and my teammates, I feel much better.
"The most important thing is the team. We have to try to keep going as a team, winning, and if I can play, the better.
"I had the chance to play the game at Crystal Palace - we know they are a very difficult team. They have good attackers and midfielders and they are defensively solid.
"It will be a difficult challenge for us but as I said, the team are in good shape and we have to keep focused on winning."
✨✨✨
Hello, hello! 🔵
Target locked 🎯
Following last weekend's superb hat-trick at Aston Villa, Sergio Aguero is just one goal short of 250 goals for City in all competitions.
Previous meetings 🔵🦅
City have won seven of the past nine Premier League meetings between the two teams.
Those seven wins have produced an aggregate score of 22-2 in City's favour.
However, Palace's 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium in December 2018 was the only Premier League defeat that City suffered at home last season, and means that the visitors are aiming to secure back-to-back away league wins against us for the first time.
Pep Guardiola on Roy Hodgson 💬
“It’s incredible to still have the passion to be a manager at his age.
“We cannot forget their position when he took over. Everyone considered Palace relegated. He
“It’s a pleasure for me when we face each other, and we have a good relationship."
Asked what he thinks the former England manager’s secret is to his longevity at the highest level, Guardiola said in jest: “I think when you are training at 74 you are bored at home.
“It’s addictive. You are with young people working, athletes. It’s a competition, you need to prove yourself.
“Every game is different, opponents are different, maybe that's the reason why older managers are still in charge.”
🔥🔥🔥
Hear from Pep 🎥
Early team news 📋
Pep Guardiola says it’s been a positive week for long-term injury absentees Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte.
The pair have missed the majority of the current campaign, with Sane absent since the Community Shield victory over Liverpool in August and Laporte sidelined after damaging his cartilage and lateral meniscus during our win over Brighton back in August.
Sane is back on the training field, albeit in isolation for the time being as he continues his recovery.
And Laporte has been involved in sessions with the rest of players since the start of the month.
Guardiola says they are progressing well – but isn’t putting a timescale on their return.
Home, sweet home 💙
A very good afternoon from the Etihad Stadium!
We're back on home soil for today's Premier League visit of Crystal Palace in a 3pm kick-off.
As always, we'll have all the pre-match behind-the-scenes build-up, plus live coverage of the action and post-match reaction.
It's a beautiful day in Manchester - albeit a cold one! How are you feeling ahead of the game? Share your thoughts in #cmoncity.
⏪
Have a listen to the boss' pre-match thoughts...
Birthday stat
Pep Guardiola will be the fifth City manager to take charge of a Premier League match on his birthday. None of the previous four have won - Brian Horton (1995), Joe Royle (2001), Mark Hughes (2009) and Roberto Mancini (2011 & 2012).
🤞 he can change that record today!
Check out what's been happening this week...▶️
Double matchday - Good luck, lads! 👍
Take a 👀 at this morning's headlines.
Wishing the boss all the best! 🎂
🔵 🆚 🦅
Good morning, City fans!
It's our favourite day of the week again - matchday - and today Crystal Palace are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium.
Here are the key times you need to be aware of to follow the game live here in our Matchday Centre:
🔹 13:00 - Live matchday coverage begins.
🔹 14:00 - Team news.
🔹 15:00 - Kick-off.
So, make sure you join us later on this afternoon, but before then we'll be posting a few things to keep you entertained and informed in the run-up to kick-off.
COME ON, CITY! 💙
Other games that day
As it stood