Summary

  • Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live & online

  • FT: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace - Stones double, either side of Gundogan strike; Sterling adds fourth

  • City go second, two points behind leaders Man Utd with a game in hand

  • FT: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd - uneventful draw sees United stay top

  • FT: Sheffield United 1-3 Tottenham - Ndombele's stunning lob pick of the Spurs goals

  1. Good nightpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    And on that note we shall say goodbye.

    Join us for the Arsenal game tomorrow, click here for today's match reports and download the latest Football daily podcast here.

    And MOTD2 is on at 22:30 GMT.

  2. 'Stones had a great evening'published at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace

    John StonesImage source, Getty Images

    Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson to BBC Sport: "Wilf Zaha always is important so when a player like him is missing you will feel that. He could have stretched them a bit more.

    "To be fair I thought our first half perormance was solid but in the second half we made some technical errors which let them in. The goals were wonderful strikes, so we can count ourselves unlucky, but I thought we surrendered those opportunities too easily."

    On John Stones: "He had a great evening. We've always known John is a good player and has those good qualities. I guess I should feel happy for him but it's a bit dificult tonight because I'm still smarting from the defeat."

  3. 'I'm most disappointed with the margin'published at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    FT: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "In the first half we dealt with them quite well we knew we would be under threat because of the quality they have and they're in excellent form but I didn't feel they were creating chance after chance. We defended well and kept our shape and made life difficult, it fell apart in the second half when we made one or two mistakes and surrendered it a bit too easily. Then they've got their tails up, the goals aren't just any old goals but it's still tough to lose by that margin."

    On John Stones and Raheem Sterling: "Very satisfied to see how well Stones and Sterling have developed, Raheem has become an incredible forward and John is really getting chance to show what kind of player he is. I've always believed in him, I've always believed he would turn out to be this kind of player but he could've possibly missed his two goals and made me feel a bit happier still."

    On run of form: "We've had two tough games to end the first half of the season, away to Arsenal and here. It would've been naive of me to think we were going to pick up points in those games. What I'm most disappointed about tonight is the margin. At half-time I didn't see us losing by a big margin. I thought we wouldn't get back into the game and we might have to concede defeat but I didn't expect to concede three goals in the second half."

  4. No title race message from Peppublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Manchester City

    Pep GuradiolaImage source, Reuters

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to BBC Sport: "This is through the quality of players, commitment and focus. We struggled the last two seasons to beat them here, we did a fantastic game."

    On John Stones' revival: "That belongs to him. If there's one guy who deserves it, it is John, he has struggled for many reasons in the past, it belongs to him how he overcame this.

    "It's just minutes for him. He deseves to play, he doesn't make mistakes and he's created a good partnership with Ruben Dias."

    Statement in the title race? "I don't want to send any messaages. It is Aston Villa on Wednesday. it is one game at a time. A few weeks ago we were points behind Liverpool and we win a few games and that's what we have to do. Now I will drink a good glass of wine and then think about Aston Villa."

    Birthday tomorrow: "I'm up early tomorrow - yes I will drink something, alone because the family is away but it's a good present for the players."

  5. 'Stones deserves it'published at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Manchester City

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports: "We didn't concede, we had to be patient and Palace defended really well. We were so stable, it is an important victory.

    "When we handle top teams we are fortunate to have this quality. In the final third when Kevin de Bruyne makes the assist, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling put it in the top corner, and John Stones was on fire in the box. It's easy for me when you have these players.

    "We try to play the same way we have in the last few seasons and in the back four we don't make mistakes. Lasy year we made a lot.

    "Last year was the worst - before we were always solid behind, it is just individual quality. Ruben has helped a lot.

    "If there is one player I am more than pleased that everything is going well, it's John Stones. He is playing because he deserves it."

  6. Postpublished at 21:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    FT: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Manchester City are the first team to record five consecutive victories in the Premier League in 2020-21, while they’re now unbeaten in nine games in the competition (W7 D2).

    Man City celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  7. "I would have loved a third"published at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Manchester City

    Manchester City double goalscorer John Stones: "My last goal was a long time ago – against Man Utd at Goodison, I think I was 19. Too long. I’ve been trying to chip in with goals and put more pressure on myself to contribute.

    "There have been a lot of times when I've been in great positions and it’s not come off. I've worked hard on the training pitch to try and get more goals.

    "I would have loved a third."

    What has changed for you? "I wouldn't say it's confidence. It's looking at what I can affect and improve on. It's down to me to look at myself. I went away and worked hard every day on the training pitch, in the gym, making sure I'm ready to be called on. Looking at every detail, recovery or whatever is, I dedicated everything to get back into the team and to show I'm fighting for the shirt, my team-mates and the club.

    "Ruben Dias has been great, he deserves a lot of credit since he's come in and he's adapted well to the Premier League. It's been great for me to play alongside him, he's so easy to get on with on and off the pitch. It's just clicked. When it happens like that you enjoy your football and I'm derfinitely enjoying it with him.

    "We know our capabilities and eveyone from the outside does as well, our mentality is one step at a time and how we can affect the game in front of us. Today was another step closer to what we want to achieve which is the Premier League title back."

    John StonesImage source, Reuters

    England recall? "It would mean everything. It's hard when you're not playing for your club and especially your country. Watching them on TV is sonmething no player wants to do. All I can do is get a run of games and impress Gareth [Southgate]. If it happens it happens."

    On Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who handed him his England debut: "When I see Roy he is always such a gentleman, a great manager for me and I have a lot of time for Roy."

  8. 'All goals are preventable'published at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson to Sky Sports: "In the first half we did very well, they had a lot of the ball but they didn't create many chances.

    "But we made some blatant mistakes in the second half, playing back to the keeper too much and it cost us. We could have made it harder for them and it's another defeat which is hard to take.

    "All goals are preventable, that's our job. But there were some excellent strikes. Three goals conceded from corners is not like us and we surrendered the ball too much.

    "I can accept losing here they are a very good team but I am disappointed to lose by such a margin.

    "We miss Zaha when he's not playing but we shouldn't lose 4-0, Wilf or no Wilf."

  9. What's next?published at 21:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Is there a Premier League game tomorrow? Is there a Y in Monday?

    It's Arsenal v Newcastle at 8pm.

  10. Partnership sortedpublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Manchester City

    John Stones and Rúben Dias have started together in 10 games for Manchester City in all competitions this season, while they’ve only conceded one goal across these 10 fixtures (W9 D1 L0).

  11. 'City closing the gap'published at 21:12 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    FT: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Michael Brown
    Former Leeds midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Two wonderful goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling and two for that special talent John Stones - he is finally getting his rewards since coming back. He has a good partnership with Ruben Dias.

    There was patient build up from Man City and Palace didn't really offer anything going forward, they set up at the start of the game to limit City, they did early on but ultimately Kevin de Bruyne with his 100th Premier League assist unlocked the door for City and a great day for them to close that gap at the top of the table.

  12. 'I need to contribute'published at 21:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Manchester City

    Manchester City defender John Stones on Sky Sports: "Two goals for myself, it's been a long time!

    "My last one was against Manchester United, I know that. I put pressure on myself to score goals, I need to contribute and bring that to my game. Today it clicked and the hard work on the training pitch on set pieces is paying off.

    "Kevin de Bruyne has done that over the years he has been here, some outrageous passes where you think 'I don't know how he's done that.' It came straight to me - it's something we can only dream of and he can do it when he wants.

    "If we can keep clean sheets we don't have to come out and score four goals every week. The whole team deserve credit for how they press and stop attacks coming to us.

    "It's tough when you're not playing or don't perform to your best. I went back to basics, looked at myself first and what i could improve. I had to keep fighting and keep believing in myself, I did that, kept the faith and kept grinding away.

    "I'm still trying to improve."

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Adam Oldroyd: Never underestimate Fernandinho. His influence is comparable to Yaya

    Waleed: This is Manchester City’s title to lose. They are dangerous , very very dangerous

    Its hard to imagine Manchester City not lifting the title in May. 15 games unbeaten, with Aguero waiting still to come!

    Craig

  14. Postpublished at 21:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    A nice touch from former England assistant Ray Lewington who comes on to the pitch to congartulate John Stones.

    Roy Hodgson follows suit in more reserved style.

  15. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

  16. 'What a finish'published at 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Michael Brown
    Former Leeds midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Raheem SterlingImage source, Getty Images

    Exact same spot as the Ilkay Gundogang oal, what a finish. Raheem Sterling needed that goal to give him some confidence. The execution, the confidence to put the ball down.

    He wanted it and he delivered and didn't disappoint. It's as good a free kick as you'll see right into the top corner.

  17. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

    City's goal difference is six better than Manchester United's, four better than Leicester and the same as Liverpool.

    You never know in a season like this.

  18. goal

    GOAL - Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palacepublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Raheem Sterling (88 mins)

    Raheem SterlingImage source, Getty Images

    Another beauty! What a strike.

    Raheem Sterling lines up the free-kick, hits it with swerve and power and it zips past the keeper into the top corner.

  19. Postpublished at 87 mins

    Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace

    Is that a pen - nope, right on the edge of the area and Raheem Sterling lines up the free-kick.

    John Stones is up, but he's not going to take it.

  20. Postpublished at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2021

    Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace

    Michael Brown
    Former Leeds midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It's literally walking pace now, they're just saying okay do you want to come out we can pick you off. So frustrating to watch, we want to see more opportunities and more tempo.

    With the amount of games that the top clubs have got to play, they're going to try and conserve energy and use the squad and rotate but from a spectator's point of view you want to see a bit more.