Manchester City moved inside two factors of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Erling Haaland’s penalty clinched a gritty 1-0 win in opposition to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s facet struggled to interrupt down Palace till Haaland netted from the spot with 12 minutes left at rain-lashed Selhurst Park.
Haaland’s thirty fourth purpose in all competitions since becoming a member of from Borussia Dortmund final 12 months was sufficient to seal City’s fifth win of their final six league video games.
Having saved the stress on Arsenal, the champions will hope Mikel Arteta’s males slip up after they journey to Fulham for his or her sport in hand on Sunday.
“Of course Arsenal is on an unimaginable run. Still we’re there,” Guardiola said.
“Here in the typical winter game, a difficult one, we were there all the time and then we won it.”
City weren’t at their fluent finest however the hard-fought victory was important to cease Arsenal transferring additional into the space within the title race.
“My expertise is that each time we come right here it has been very powerful. We at all times battle as a result of we wish to rating extra targets,” Guardiola said.
“They will waste time so we have to push to do it. Everything pleased me. It is not easy, they defend six players in the box and Erling had two men marking him. It was a question of patience.”
Now Haaland and firm will give attention to the second leg of their Champions League final 16 conflict in opposition to Leipzig in Manchester on Tuesday, with the tie delicately balanced at 1-1.
Palace are on the longest present winless run within the Premier League, failing to take most factors from any of their 10 video games in 2023, a dismal sequence that leaves them simply 4 factors above the relegation zone.
Guardiola left Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker on the bench, Walker’s exile coming simply days after police launched an investigation into allegations the England defender indecently uncovered himself in a bar.
City made a robust begin as Rodri’s highly effective volley was parried by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.
Ruben Dias’s try to show within the rebound was blocked by Jeffrey Schlupp earlier than Jack Grealish shot simply vast moments later.
City had been practically caught out when Manuel Akanji was pressured to race again to dam Wilfried Zaha’s shot after Phil Foden carelessly surrendered possession.
– Haaland strikes –
Guardiola has claimed Foden is again to his finest after a troublesome season for the England playmaker.
But Foden struggled within the first half and Guardiola was on his ft barking at his star when his misplaced cross went straight to Palace’s Luka Milivojevic.
Haaland scored his first Premier League hat-trick in opposition to Palace in August as City got here from two targets down at half-time to win 4-2.
Haaland ought to have put City forward halfway by means of the primary half within the rematch, however he clipped over from six yards after Nathan Ake’s cross picked him out.
The Norway striker threatened once more with a low cross-shot that Guaita blocked on the close to put up, with the rebound drilled vast by Haaland.
City maintained their territorial management within the second half and Jack Grealish rapidly received a free-kick, from which Foden’s 25-yard strike drew an excellent save from Guaita.
Julian Alvarez, despatched on instead of Foden, squandered a golden alternative to interrupt the impasse as the Argentine World Cup winner blazed over after his nimble flip opened up the Palace defence.
Alvarez’s long-range effort was too near Guaita quickly afterwards, however City’s stress was mounting and so they struck within the 78th minute.
Michael Olise’s rash problem on Ilkay Gundogan was dominated a penalty and Haaland stepped as much as ship Guaita the unsuitable means from the spot.
Haaland wasted an opportunity to kill off Palace when he headed over from Grealish’s cross.
That miss meant City needed to survive a nervous finale, with Ederson saving from Eberechi Eze, earlier than they might lastly exhale.
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