It was on this ground last season that Yaya Toure produced a majestic piece of quality. During a year of countless highs, the midfielder glided forward down the right wing, receiving the ball in the Crystal Palace penalty area having set off from the halfway line following a one-two, and proceeding to calmly loop the ball over Julian Speroni.
It proved to be a crucial effort on a pivotal day of the campaign. City’s 2-0 victory 12 months ago propelled them back into the ascendancy in the title race, on the same afternoon as Steven Gerrard’s untimely slip against Chelsea punctured the momentum for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
In the end, it was a day that turned the tide in City’s favour and they ended the season on top after a thrilling finish.
Liverpool, who had appeared well set for a first league title in 24 years, were hit with a sucker punch that day and Manuel Pellegrini’s side – courtesy of Toure and Edin Dzeko – took full advantage.
Wonderful effort
Toure scored 20 Premier League goals – not to mention a wonderful effort in the Capital One Cup final – last season, a phenomenal record and one that dragged City out of difficult situations many times.
He returned to the team last night after missing the recent victory over West Bromwich Albion with an achilles injury, and produced another fine piece of magic.
However, by then it was too little too late for City. His left-foot strike in the 78th minute was not enough even though it was a piece of quality that came like a bolt from the blue with his team already two goals down.
Toure, who has two years remaining on his contract, has certainly not hit his former heights.
Although he has scored eight league goals this term, it will surely be remembered as a campaign that never really got going. Much like City, there have been periods of dominance throughout the year, but the required consistency has been absent. Usually the adage rings true that when Toure plays well, City play well.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a purple patch through November and December – scoring six goals in eight games – but the Africa Cup of Nations interrupted that fine run. He played an important role in Ivory Coast’s success in Equatorial Guinea but, since his return, he has not been able to inspire City to make Chelsea’s nerves jangle uneasily at the summit of the Premier League.
It is difficult to pinpoint why Toure has not hit the level of last season. In many ways a repeat of 2013-14 was always unlikely, given the remarkable quality of his displays in midfield, yet things have never seemed the same at City ever since “birthday-gate” last May.
Back then, Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, claimed the player was “very upset” at a lack of respect shown by City on his 31st birthday, words that prompted a bizarre few weeks amid claims and counterclaims.
Whenever he was on the ball here, there remained the constant threat of danger. In the fifth minute he was almost fed in one-on-one by David Silva were it not for a crucial, late interception, and he was denied on the line midway through the half.
Toure struck a wayward shot high and wide shortly before half-time as City trudged off behind at the interval despite their early dominance. Things soon went from bad to worse as Jason Puncheon added to Glenn Murray's first half goal to deal their fading title chances a massive blow.
Once Puncheon had put Palace 2-0 up, City increased the pressure but could not break through. Sergio Aguero drove down the right and had a low drive blocked, before the ball reached Jesus Navas.
The Spaniard laid it back for Toure on the edge of the area but his first-time effort flew well over the crossbar .
City had a clear call for a penalty when Fernandinho’s shot hit Glenn Murray’s hand before after 78 minutes Toure threw his side a lifeline when he produced a trademark emphatic finish from the edge of the area.
Home goalkeeper Speroni had to produce a spectacular save to deny the midfielder an equaliser but it ended up being a miserable evening for City in a season that has demonstrated how much they rely on their star midfielder to shine.
Guardian Service
