Palace Stun Champions Manchester City

Andros Townsend smashed home a sublime 30-yard volley as Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City at Etihad Stadium to leave Liverpool four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Crystal Palace pulled the biggest shock of the season to date by claiming their first win at City home ground for exactly 28 years to end the defending champions' 100% home record in the EPL this season. 

Manchester City's form at Etihad Stadium this season - they had scored an average of three goals a match in nine successive league wins before this today’s fixture - had made it a fortress, but its walls crumbled down in spectacular fashion. 

The game looked to be following a familiar pattern when Ilkay Gundogan ghosted into the box to head City in front from Fabian Delph's cross, but the the home fans were left in stunned silence with events of the next eight minutes.

First, Jeffrey Schlupp levelled with a fizzing angled striker  into the bottom corner after meeting James McArthur's pass on the edge of the area.

Townsend then gave the away team the lead with a contender for goal of the season, a magnificent volley after Bernardo Silva had half-cleared a free-kick.

Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City boss, who had lost just two other league games here since he took charge in the summer of 2016 - introduced the club record goalscorer Sergio Aguero shortly after the break.

The home fans, and spectators present, anticipated a comeback but Palace quickly scored the third of the day from the spot. 

Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross was headed against the post by Townsend, Kyle Walker fouled Max Meyer as he tried to clear and Luka Milivojevic made no mistake, sent Ederson the wrong way with his penalty.

Guardiola introduced Kevin de Bruyne, so often a hero of last season's procession to the title, into the rain to initiate a rescue mission but this was way beyond the Belgian. 

However, the Belgian midfielder did reduce the deficit before the end when his aimed cross looped into the net, and Gabriel Jesus headed away another of his deliveries, but otherwise Crystal Palace stood firm for a deserved victory.