Frustration for Manchester City as they are held at Crystal Palace

Manchester City drew a blank at Crystal Palace in a goalless draw which blows the Premier League title race wide open.

With Liverpool coasting to victory at Brighton on Saturday, City failed to restore their six-point lead as a spirited Palace display saw them earn a deserved share of the spoils.

The result leaves City four points clear at the summit but the reigning champions have played a game more than Liverpool – who are away at in-form Arsenal on Wednesday night – with Jurgen Klopp’s side still to travel to the Etihad Stadium next month.

City, with the same starting line-up that eased to victory over Manchester United eight days ago, huffed and puffed but could not find a way through.

The Eagles may remain without a home win since beating Norwich in December but this will feel like a victory for Patrick Vieira, who also masterminded a 2-0 success in the reverse fixture.

For all their possession, City created a couple of issues of their own making, Aymeric Laporte dispossessed by Conor Gallagher before the visitors again ceded possession leading to Michael Olise’s shot flashing wide of the far post.

City were almost in soon after. Vicente Guaita spilled a Kevin De Bruyne strike, only for Bernardo Silva to attempt to skip past the Palace goalkeeper from the rebound but instead run the ball out of play.

Palace were still in the fight as Jean-Philippe Mateta broke behind the City backline and saw his shot deflected behind.

John Stones hit a long-range effort at the other end which was also blocked for a corner, Palace breaking from the set-piece with Olise and Mateta combining only for the latter to slip as he tried to get his shot away.

City were now turning the screw, Joao Cancelo smacking the post from long-range,