Manchester City dealt title blow after draw at West Ham

The Cityzens headed into the match on the back of a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest in the last league match and a 3-0 drubbing in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash against Real Madrid.

City dominated possession from the onset without threatening Hammers goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, whose side was content with defending deep and looking for counterattack opportunities.

The visitors then took the lead in the 31st minute through a Bernardo Silva chipped cross cum shot that went in over a fully stretched Hermansen.

However, the lead only lasted four minutes before Konstantinos Mavropanos rose unchallenged from a Jarrod Bowen corner, to head the ball in off the underside of the crossbar and over the line for the equalizer.

Pep Guardiola's side continued to dominate in the second half but failed to create clear chances, prompting the Spanish manager to bring on Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku in the 61st minute.

Cherki immediately fed Erling Haaland whose low shot just tipped around the post by Hermansen.

City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders saw a free kick tipped onto the crossbar by Hermansen in the 83rd minute, with Haaland failing to convert the final two big chances of the match.

The result sees Arsenal move nine points ahead of second placed City, having played one match more than Pep Guardiola's team.

"Football is unpredictable," said Guardiola after the match.

"They have one chance and score one goal, but it's happened in the past. Always this season we've had a team that's controlled many aspects, but we were not able to score three or four."

West Ham move temporarily out of the bottom three after getting the point against City, level on points with Spurs who are in 16th spot.

"You have to be in the right place, you have to cover, you have to help each other, you have to make the balances," said Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo following the draw.

"When we don't have the ball like the game today, it's very important to keep to your tasks. We have to understand how hard it is to play against City.

"I think they recognise the effort of the boys, the belief of the boys and in the final moments what was needed and they give the support and the sound."

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