Manchester City threw away a 2-0 lead at home against Crystal Palace on Saturday – the fifth time in six league games that Pep Guardiola’s men have dropped points
The champions dominated the match at the Etihad Stadium but two late goals from Palace, including a stoppage-time penalty, could have a major impact on the title race. Should Liverpool beat Manchester United on Sunday, it would leave City six points adrift of the leaders.
City had dominated possession and appeared in complete control after Jack Grealish put them ahead in the 24th minute and Rico Lewis added a 54th-minute second.
But Palace fought back through Jean-Philippe Mateta with 15 minutes of normal time to go, and Michael Olise subsequently converted from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure an unlikely point for the visitors.
City goalscorer Lewis admitted they only had themselves to blame. "It’s really unfortunate but we’ve got to look at ourselves and look at our individual decisions and then look at us as a group. We can’t blame anyone else. We can only blame ourselves for it.
"There’s no complaints [about the penalty]. The ref’s given it as a penalty, it’s a penalty. That’s all I can say. Like I said, it’s down to us. It’s our mistakes. There’s no complaints from us, only to ourselves."
The treble winners now head to Saudi Arabia for the Fifa Club World Cup. They face Asian champions Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday.
Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson made several notable saves and was delighted to leave the Etihad Stadium with a point.
He said: "Manchester City are a world class team and you’ve just got to try to stay in the game as long as you can and hopefully catch them on the break which we did. We stuck to the game plan. The manager was unbelievable with the messages through the week. The boys deserve all the credit because it’s hard work against them."
Elsewhere, Chelsea returned to winning ways at Stamford Bridge against bottom club Sheffield United, winning 2-0. Cole Palmer smashed Raheem Sterling's low cross into the net in the 54th minute and he turned provider just after the hour mark as Nicolas Jackson slotted home.
"I’m very pleased," said Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino. "The performance was good. It’s always good against a team who play aggressively with a low block.
"In the second half we changed the position of Palmer and Raheem Sterling, we tried to put Palmer and Mudryk in a better position in front of goal.
"I’m confident, even when we lose. I really believe in the players and the club. Now it’s about to use that in the next competition in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup."
Meanwhile, Newcastle claimed all three points at St James' Park to end a run of two consecutive league defeats. Teenager Lewis Miley found the bottom corner in the 57th minute, Miguel Almiron made it 2-0 and Dan Burn scrambled home late in the game to put the result beyond doubt.
In the late game, Amadou Onana and Michael Keane scored as in-form Everton cruised to a 2-0 win at Burnley. The Toffees, who were docked 10 points by the Premier League for financial transgressions, have won four games in a row and are now seven points clear of relegation trouble.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
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Brief scores
Toss India, chose to bat
India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)
Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)
India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars