Erling Haaland Strikes As Manchester City Sink Crystal Palace

Manchester City moved within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Erling Haaland's penalty clinched a gritty 1-0 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's side struggled to break down Palace until Haaland netted from the spot with 12 minutes left at rain-lashed Selhurst Park. Haaland's 34th goal in all competitions since joining from Borussia Dortmund last year was enough to seal City's fifth win in their last six league games. Having kept the pressure on Arsenal, the champions will hope Mikel Arteta's men slip up when they travel to Fulham for their game in hand on Sunday.

"Of course Arsenal is on an incredible run. Still we are there," Guardiola said.

"Here in the typical winter game, a difficult one, we were there all the time and then we won it."

City weren't at their fluent best but the hard-fought victory was essential to stop Arsenal moving further into the distance in the title race.

"My experience is that every time we come here it has been very tough. We always struggle because we want to score more goals," Guardiola said.

"They will waste time so we have to push to do it. Everything pleased me. It is not easy, they defend six players in the box and Erling had two men marking him. It was a question of patience."

Now Haaland and company will focus on the second leg of their Champions League last 16 clash against Leipzig in Manchester on Tuesday, with the tie delicately balanced at 1-1.

Palace are on the longest current winless run in the Premier League, failing to take maximum points from any of their 10 games in 2023, a dismal sequence that leaves them just four points above the relegation zone.

Guardiola left Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker on the bench, Walker's exile coming just days