Remember that time when you rolled your eyes on your team’s coach’s remark that it’s far better to play poorly and win than to play well and lose? After watching Manchester City dominate Crystal Palace on Monday night and still fail to win, you’d probably accept that the dreaded phrase is correct.Man City’s kryptonite – Crystal Palace! Eagles snatch a point at Selhurst ParkThere isn’t much point in slick passing, great movement, ball possession and restricting your opponent to a handful of counter-attacks when you don’t manage to score and end up frustrated after dropping two more points in the title race. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was calm and collected when he faced the press after his team’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, but it’s hard to believe that he isn’t desperately annoyed.”We played a really good game in a difficult stadium and against a difficult side. They have the quality to run and we sometimes lost the build-up ball but it was a really good game. We did everything. What I want from my team is to do better than the opponent. We played a fantastic football game in all departments. It was difficult to control their players up front. We created a lot of chances. On another day we will score.”PL points dropped by Man City under Pep Guardiola:1️⃣9️⃣ v Tottenham1️⃣7️⃣ v Liverpool1️⃣6️⃣ v Man Utd1️⃣5️⃣ v Chelsea1️⃣0️⃣ v CRYSTAL PALACE 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/Zb7b2Id402— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) March 14, 2022 On another day, they certainly will score. They will even score four or five. But last night they needed just one – and it didn’t come. Many were quick to point out the fact that City still haven’t signed a striker to replace Sergio Aguero. There are many players with silky skills and refined touch in that team, but there isn’t anyone who can bully the opposition defenders and force the ball over the line when goals are hard to come by.Guardiola didn’t make any substitutions during the game. The reason is quite simple – he was happy with the way those on the pitch were playing.”I was thinking about Gabriel and Gundo but the players were playing good in a high, high rhythm. They know that when they play like this there is nothing to say.”Wednesday, 23.15: (4.20) Arsenal (3.60) Liverpool (1.95)City’s draw moved them four points clear of Liverpool, but they have played a game more, and Liverpool can cut the gap to a single point if they win their game in hand against Arsenal on Wednesday. Winger Bernardo Silva is already relishing next month’s showdown between City and Liverpool at the Etihad, the game that could decide the title race.”It’s always better to win than draw. We wanted to win, to have an advantage of six points to Liverpool with their game in hand. But there is still a long way to go, nine games to go. We’re still in a good position. It’s still better to be in our position than Liverpool and they still have to play in our stadium. It’s going to be exciting.”▪️ City drop two points▪️ Liverpool four points behind with a game in hand▪️ City vs. Liverpool in AprilLiverpool are getting close 👀 pic.twitter.com/18ZrF1tijW— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 14, 2022 The Citizens will meet Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday before they return to Premier League action. By the time that happens, though, their lead over Liverpool in the table could be reduced to a single point.It’s getting hot!
