Pep Guardiola could not celebrate the dismissal of Mou or Christmas with a victory, because he has been presented with the Grinch of Crystal Palace. In one of the most interesting duels of date 18 in the Etihad Stadium. In that scenario Manchester City was surprised and let pass a very good chance to stay on top of the table losing 3 to 2 against Crystal Palace.

Guardiola, deprived of the injured Kompany, David Silva, Mendy, Fernandinho and Bravo and the convalescents Agüero and De Bruyne on the bench, knew the complexity of the game and chose Stone in the double pivot.

Although things for the City started well thanks to a header from Ilkay Gundogan to put the first goal of the match, four goals already add the former Borussia Dortmund in 13 games, only eight as a starter, in this Premier. Then appeared Jeff Schlupp, Andros Townsend with two real goals and Luka Milivojevic’s penalty to turn the game.

The Palace, superb at the back, blamed the fatigue in the final minutes. Still, it resisted well. The 2-3 of City, work of De Bruyne in the 85 ‘, had a good dose of luck, it was a center-shot that was ‘poisoned’ and ended up slipping into the goal of Guaita. After that, Gabriel Jesús missed a header in the small area at the 92nd minute. With this result, those led by Pep remained anchored in the second place of the Premier, but now four units behind Liverpool, who yesterday won as a visitor to Wolverhampton.

With this defeat of the citizen group, would be the second so far in the tournament, will return to have activity on December 26, when visiting the Leicester. Crystal Palace, the same day, will receive Cardiff City.