Manchester City were facing the prospect of a seventh defeat in nine matches when they visited Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Wideman Daniel Munoz gave the hosts a surprise fourth-minute lead at Selhurst Park, seizing on Will Hughes’ pass to slot in.
The goal underwent a Video Assistant Referee check before being given to the side who started the day three points above the relegation zone.
Erling Haaland equalised with his 13th goal of the season after 30 minutes, but Maxence Lacroix restored Palace’s lead with a header 11 minutes after the restart.
Man City have conceded seven goals in the first 15 minutes of matches this season. No side has conceded more.#CRYMCI pic.twitter.com/YkJvzHyNDN
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2024
Crystal Palace vs Man City: Haaland ‘clinical’
Palace had lost one of their past eight games in all competitions and won 1-0 at Ipswich Town on Tuesday but were considerable underdogs to earn a positive result against the reigning champions.
Haaland’s goal was the 24-year-old’s first in three league games, heading in a Matheus Nunes delivery to end City’s wait of more than three hours to score away.
“Nunes whips it in with his right foot and Haaland hangs in the air and just heads it across the goal,” former England defender Martin Keown told BBC Sport’s Final Score. “Fantastic finish. Clinical.”
The goal sent Haaland – the Premier League’s leading marksman for the past two seasons – level as the 2024/25 top scorer alongside Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
With Liverpool’s trip to Everton called off because of weather conditions hours earlier, Haaland is highly likely to end the weekend top of the scoring charts if the Norway talisman adds to his tally against the Eagles.
Erling Haaland. Goal number 1️⃣3️⃣ for the season.
His towering header levels the scoreline against Crystal Palace!#CRYMCI pic.twitter.com/GHt49DHvVy
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2024
De Bruyne starts again
Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne started a second consecutive game for City, having produced a goal and assist in their 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
That result resembled a return to form for the Cityzens after a run of five successive domestic defeats, lifting them to fourth.
Only victory against Palace would send them above second-placed Chelsea and third-placed Arsenal, who both play on Sunday and have 28 points.
Liverpool were seven points above them after drawing 3-3 with Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday, when Fabian Schar scored in the 90th minute to bag the Magpies a point.