Leaders Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace as the Premier League title race took yet another dramatic twist.
With nearest challengers Liverpool having cut the gap to three points with their victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, their eighth successive league win to remain in City's rear-view mirror, the onus was on the champions to respond.The post was rattled in the opening period by Joao Cancelo and again after the break by Kevin De Bruyne as the visitors were left frustrated time and again.
"We played to score goals and concede few. We struggled a little bit. The team that was there today was there before and will be there in the next game.City soon settled into their rhythm and dominated possession as they often do in South London, creating several promising early openings – Bernardo Silva missing the most glaring of them.
The last side to stop City scoring in the Premier League was Palace in October, and another shutout was looking more likely as chances continued to come and go for City.