Manchester City vs Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson's side hand champions major title blow

Re-live the action from the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City: A look back at 2018

Champions Manchester City will trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by four points on Christmas Day after a shock 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace.

Andros Townsend scored one of the goals of the season as Roy Hodgson's inspired Palace came from behind to condemn City to their first league defeat at the Etihad Stadium since April.

Townsend struck with a 30-yard volley after Jeffrey Schlupp had cancelled out Ilkay Gundogan's opener on a rain-soaked afternoon.

A penalty from Luka Milivojevic sealed victory although Kevin De Bruyne's cross-cum-shot gave City, who also hit the post through Leroy Sane, late hope.

The defeat was City's second in three league games and handed the title initiative to Liverpool, whom they face on 3 January. Re-live the action in the blog below:

[22 December 2018 13:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

52 minutes

Arsenal can ill-afford more injury issues so Unai Emery will be a relieved man as both Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Matteo Guendouzi are soon back on their feet after taking knocks.

[22 December 2018 13:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

54 minutes

Sead Kolasinac is full of running this afternoon.

Granit Xhaka can't find him with a curling pass down the line, but the Bosnian is willing to test Phil Bardsley in behind at every opportunity.

[22 December 2018 13:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

55 minutes

Arsenal fortunate!

Burnley work a free kick routine as Arsenal try to play offside, stepping up in unison.

They have done it well and all the Burnley players have gone too early, but the flag does not go up, and had Chris Wood's touch been better he would have simply slotted home.

As it is, Arsenal manage to recover and concede a corner. Lucky.

[22 December 2018 13:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

57 minutes

Ashley Barnes does need to be careful, perhaps leaving a stamp on Matteo Guendouzi after fouling the Frenchman but escaping a second yellow card.

He then fires some distance over the bar from 25 yards. It might be start for Sean Dyche to take the frustrated Austrian off.

[22 December 2018 13:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

59 minutes

A change does come, but it is one for Arsenal rather than Burnley.

Mohamed Elneny is replaced by Lucas Torreira, who we are told has been suffering from a cold, hence his spot on the bench,

[22 December 2018 13:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

60 minutes

Things are just getting a little bit heated.

Jack Cork leaves a foot in on Matteo Guendouzi, and Ben Mee fells Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to concede a free kick in a dangerous area.

Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira stand over it...

[22 December 2018 13:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

61 minutes

Torreira it is who strides towards the ball, but that's awful. High and wide.

[22 December 2018 13:50 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Burnley (Ashley Barnes, 63 minutes)

Burnley back in it!

Twice the visitors launch balls into the Arsenal box, and from the second Ashley Barnes profits.

Lucas Torreira's attempted clearance ricochets over to Barnes lurking on the left, and the Austrian flays the ball past Bernd Leno with considerable disdain.

[22 December 2018 13:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

66 minutes

Here come Arsenal again.

It is Sead Kolasinac once more powering free and squaring, but his cross is just behind Alexandre Lacazette, who is unaware that Mesut Ozil is well-placed behind him and thus tries to control.

Burnley smuggle the ball away.

[22 December 2018 13:56 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

68 minutes

Mesut Ozil takes a corner short with the box loaded and twice has it returned to him in crossing position, but opts to ignore his waiting teammates and play the ball backwards on both occasions.

Curious decision-making.