Five takeaways from Crystal Palace’s loss at Manchester City – Eagles need to add more physical presence as possession game struggles

Crystal Palace saw a two-goal lead slip as they lost 4-2 at Manchester City on Saturday.

Here are Adam Sells’ five takeaways from the match:

DECISIONS! DECISIONS!

In order to upset Manchester City in their own backyard, aside from being extremely dogged, you need ‘Lady Luck’ on your side.

Last season, Wilfried Zaha cashed in on an Aymeric Laporte error and then rolled the City defender forcing him to see red just before half-time.

Both players were absent this time and the two big decisions that referee Darren England had to make on Saturday went against Palace.

Both the Erling Haaland high boot and Ederson interception come into the bracket of ‘I’ve seen them given’. Though much debated, neither call went in favour of the visitors.

UNDONE BY THE LOSS OF MITCHELL

The loss of Tyrick Mitchell caused Palace huge issues just as City got a foothold in the game.

Patrick Vieira’s choice to deploy Chris Richards in the left-back slot may be one that the Eagles boss, in hindsight, would have done differently.

The young American came on early in the second half and it was a like-for-like swap with Mitchell in order to cause minimum disruption to the plan.

Matching up Richards’ physicality against the ‘raging bull’ Haaland may well have been a better option, while utilising Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Ward or Jeffrey Schlupp on the left side.

Haaland’s strength in brushing off Ward for his hat-trick demonstrated just why you must fight fire with fire.

SIZE MATTERS

The Premier League is the land of the giants.

If there was any reminder needed, here it was. Aside from the powerhouse that is Haaland, Manchester City were physical and dominant.

Palace have let Christian Benteke and Cheick Kouyate leave and are in need of replacements with similar size and presence within the squad.

Also noticeable was the fact that despite City’s 74 per cent possession, Pep Guardiola’s men committed 14 fouls to Palace’s eight. The use of the cheap tactical foul often restricted the Eagles’ rhythm on the counter-attack.

POSSESSION IS NINE TENTHS OF THE LAW

Patrick Vieira has built a possession based team over the past year or so.

But to be truly effective against top opposition, Palace need to handle the ball better when playing out from the back.

Joachim Andersen has resembled Franz Beckenbauer since his arrival, with his tremendous ability on the ball. But beyond the Great Dane receiving the ball short from Vicente Guaita and setting his team up with a pinpoint pass, possession was often conceded three or four passes in, meaning Palace were unable to mount any meaningful attacks aside of the two set-piece goals. Without Benteke, the option to play over the press and into a front man’s chest has gone.

Of course, the Eagles were up against a top side, but to play this way Palace must deal better with the ball when pressed, whoever the opponent.

AYEW A GOOD CENTRE FORWARD OPTION?

Jordan Ayew showed up well.

His close control and ability to hold the ball up was really apparent during the first-half.

The Ghanaian’s ability to draw a foul also earned his team respite against the home side’s continual waves of attack.

Ayew won the Player of The Season in 2020 under Roy Hodgson, playing predominantly as a number nine, and those qualities were a standout feature at the Etihad Stadium, in his role on the right-hand side in a 5-4-1 formation.

With Edouard looking better suited to a wide role in Vieira’s usual shape of 4-1-2-3  and Jean-Philippe Mateta yet to start a Premier League game, perhaps we may see Ayew back leading the line in the future?