Entering Christmas with a 13-point lead in the English Premier League makes for some nice tasting turkey and provides the luxury of a wee dram or four.
Sadly, for Manchester City, that is all fantasy and a mere memory of Christmas past, after the champions succumbed to Crystal Palace 3-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium.
It was a stunning result and one that the Eagles well and truly deserved. Manager Roy Hodgson heralded their shape, structure and the efficient execution of a well thought out game plan.
The win may set something of a blueprint for other teams in their planning and efforts to topple one of the powerhouses of the league.
City dominated possession and took more shots on goal, yet their ability to combine in attack and create slick passing movements that break down defences was hampered by Palace’s commitment to the task and diligent defending.
City never really broke the shackles and looked frustrated by the reduction of time and space that the Eagles allowed them.
Things started well for the home side when Ilkay Gundogan found the net after 27 minutes. Oft a team is broken once behind against such an opposing beast, yet Palace were resilient and scored twice in the next eight minutes.
Jeffrey Schlupp opened the scoring for the visitors in the 33rd before Andros Townsend birthed a contender for goal of the season with his stunning strike in the 35th.
A penalty in the 51st minute, after Kyle Walker’s foul in the box, saw the visitors take a match-winning lead.
With Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez all introduced after the break to pull back the deficit, fans anticipated a resurgence.
De Bruyne did score after 85 minutes but Palace were not to be denied on their best day of the season thus far.
Most importantly, the collective voice of Liverpool was giggling, cheering and disbelieving, as the Reds held their four-point gap at the top of the ladder.
Now it is they who will become the hunted and don’t be fooled into thinking that City will do anything but come roaring back in the New Year; desperate to obliterate the deficit.
In Friday action, Liverpool gained their four-point lead after a 2-0 win against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium.
Supposed one-season wonder Mohamed Salah scored his 11th of the campaign and moved to the top of the scorers’ list.
Those who death-knelled this man must be starting to feel a little silly and the Egyptian looks to be getting better as each week of the season unfolds.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang responded within 24 hours, reclaiming top spot with two of his own in Arsenal’s comfortable win against Burnley.
There were away wins for Watford at West Ham, Leicester against a disappointing Chelsea and Manchester United, who put five past Cardiff in a glorious debut for the interim manager.
Newcastle and Fulham played a dour draw and Bournemouth bucked the trend of the away victories with an important three points at home to Brighton.
Sunday night action saw Tottenham thrash Everton 6-2 in a game I have not seen but cannot wait to watch. Spurs had only eight shots on target yet six went in! Amazing efficiency.
However, this weekend may well be remembered as the moment Liverpool took a Premier League lead into Christmas and applied some serious pressure to the seemingly unstoppable charge of Manchester City.
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