Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 5y

Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling fail to fire as Man City stunned by Crystal Palace

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City were shocked at home by Crystal Palace in a stunning 3-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. It all appeared to be going according to plan when Ilkay Gundogan headed them into a 27th-minute lead, but the visitors were ahead at half-time with two stunning strikes in two minutes from Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend. Luka Milivojevic extended their lead from the penalty spot before Kevin De Bruyne pulled a goal back.

Positives

De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero got more minutes in their legs as they return to full fitness for a busy schedule, but there was so little to take from a game when City were a million miles from their best.

Negatives

City suddenly can't stop conceding goals, and it's seriously hindering their ambitions of defending their titles. They have now failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their past eight games. City let in just three goals from their first 10 Premier League games but have conceded eight times in their past five.

Manager Rating out of 10

5 -- Pep Guardiola appeared to get it wrong with his starting lineup selection. City's back four looked slow against the pace of Wilfried Zaha and Townsend and John Stones in the centre of midfield never looked settled. Guardiola's substitutions were adventurous, but City lost their shape in the last half-hour as they chased the game via crazy football rather than the usual methodical unpicking of the opposition.

Player ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Ederson, 6 -- Three shots on target from the visitors, and he had no chance with any of them.

DF Kyle Walker, 5 -- Started well with some great crossfield passes to Leroy Sane to change the direction of play. Could have done more to close down Schlupp for the equaliser and made a clumsy tackle on Max Meyer for the penalty.

DF Nicolas Otamendi, 5 -- Troubled by the persistence of the irritating Zaha, who won the duel between the two. Was taken off immediately after half-time.

DF Aymeric Laporte, 5 -- Has lost some of his early season invincibility. Never looked certain when Palace broke quickly.

DF Fabian Delph, 6 -- Good going forward. Hit one rasping shot that was tipped over and set up Gundogan's header with an inch-perfect cross.

MF, John Stones, 5 -- In the holding midfield role and didn't look happy. He got caught in possession a couple of times and didn't get forward as much as Fernandinho does. Improved when he moved back into defence.

MF Bernardo Silva, 5 -- Had very little room to work with and found it difficult to be his usual creative self.

MF Ilkay Gundogan, 6 -- Ghosted into the box for the opening goal and finished in style. Was the only midfielder able to get beyond the forwards in search of a goal.

FW Raheem Sterling, 5 -- Unusually quiet. Palace regularly doubled up against him, but he couldn't find a way through.

FW Gabriel Jesus, 4 -- Saw little of the ball and couldn't make an impact.

FW Leroy Sane, 6 -- City's biggest threat going forward with his ability to stay out wide. But it was difficult to create much against Palace's ultra-defensive setup.

Substitutes:

FW Sergio Aguero, 4 -- Couldn't find an opportunity to change the game.

MF Kevin De Bruyne, 6 -- Speeded up the passing and scored a fortunate goal.

FW Riyad Mahrez, 4 -- Found it as hard as Sterling to find any room.

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