Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace became only the second Premier League team to hold Manchester City to a draw today. For Pep Guardiola, the game was a disappointing one as the win streak is over and he lost both Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus to serious looking injuries.
It could have been worse for City, as Palace were awarded a fortunate 90th-minute penalty and the chance to clinch all three points but Luka Milivojević shot tamely down the middle. In the resulting break, Kevin De Bruyne was hacked down by Jason Puncheon. Both players left the field on stretchers.
In the midst of it all, Guardiola took advantage of the prolonged stoppage to converse with his opposing manager.
Rare you see this.
In the middle of a manic period of stoppage time, Pep and Roy Hodgson sit down for a chat! #CRYMCI pic.twitter.com/hMNCqdl5Nl— eir Sport (@eirSport) December 31, 2017
When Hodgson initially took the Crystal Palace job he spoke of his admiration for the 70-year English coach.
I admire him. He's had a long career and I respect that, just as I respect Gareth Barry for all those games he’s played in the Premier League. They keep going.
I admire Roy, at 70, to have the energy to put in front of the players, to have the adrenalin to know what's going to happen. He's been with England, Switzerland, it's good.
It appears De Bruyne's injury is not as serious as initially feared. However, the loss of Gabriel Jesus may rekindle the Alexis Sanchez discussions. In punditry after the game, Richard Dunne suggested City may now pay a transfer fee in January for Sanchez rather than wait until next summer due to Guardiola's desire to rotate strikers. City do not have much of a break as they play Watford in two days time.
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