Manchester City kept up the pressure on league-leading Arsenal as they defeated struggling Crystal Palace in a hard-fought victory, cutting the deficit at the top to two points.
At Selhurst Park, Pep Guardiola’s team had to wait patiently for their chance to catch up to the Arsenal, who will be visiting London rivals Fulham on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
After Michael Olise’s last-second challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, Erling Haaland converted the penalty kick for his 28th goal of the season to end the game. He struck the ball into the bottom corner in the 78th minute.
Rodri’s first-time effort forced Vicente Guaita to react, and Jack Grealish pulled a low shot wide after bursting into the penalty area, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on a determined opening.
In the first half, Haaland, who scored his first Premier League hat-trick in the corresponding match in August, came the closest, but the league’s leading scorer remarkably missed the goal after Nathan Ake’s pass into the six-yard box.
A shot-shy Palace pushed for a late equaliser against a retreating City, but it was to no avail as the hosts went a Premier League record third successive league game without managing a shot on target.
The defeat extends Palace’s concerning league winless run to 10 matches – the longest in the division – and leaves Patrick Vieira’s side just four points above the relegation places.
For City, the victory is a positive note to begin another crucial week – with the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against RB Leipzig next before an FA Cup quarter-final against Burnley.
“Of course Arsenal is on an incredible run. Still we are there,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“Here in the typical winter game, a difficult one, we were there all the time and then we won it.
“Now we have to do absolutely everything and next Tuesday and Saturday. Hopefully the Etihad can live one of the best nights we have lived and we can do it again.”
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