Crystal Palace. The Pride of South London and Vanquishers of European "Super League" teams with ten men. Patrick Vieira's victory over Pep Guardiola became the crowning achievement of his opening ten league games in charge as his side won 2-0. Here are our takeaways: 

Vieira Shuffles the Deck

Making his first start following the international break, Zaha's impact on the game was immediate. In the Man City half in only the sixth minute, Conor Gallagher pounced on a heavy touch from Aymeric Laporte, starting a counter-attack.

Eluding the desperate lunge from Rúben Dias, Zaha, playing a 1-2 back to Gallagher, broke free of the defence. Having taken the ball to the left to create an angle, his low shot evaded Ederson, opening the scoring and stunning the home support.

Whereas the switch to 4-4-2 against Chelsea was too much of a departure on the opening day of the season, Vieira showed that within his standard 4-3-3, he could switch up the style with only a few changes, making use of the variety of talent within his squad. 

Knowing his team would find it difficult to hold onto possession against one of the league's top sides, Vieira elected to start Cheikhou Kouyaté to shield his defence in his role as a ball-winning midfielder. Ayew, as a defensive-winger, gave more structure to his flank covering Joel Ward.

The intent was clear. Against a side brimming with creative talent, Palace needed to smother the attacking play as best they could. The lone attacking option was to use the pace and trickery of Zaha on the break.

Palace led early and survived the bulk of the half before the game plan paid dividends for a second time. Laporte's day went from bad to worse. Caught out again, he dragged Zaha to the ground rather than allow him through on goal. VAR couldn't save him, as emotion boiled over for the home-side. 

The first half went to Patrick Vieira against the reigning Premier League Champions. The battle against the ten men of Guardiola would be a new tactical battle entirely.

Palace Show Defensive Resolve

If a team can come away with a result away at Man City, the defence is bound to have played its part. Showering the entire team with platitudes is therefore completely justified. 

The back five remained the same, with Kouyaté in front. Overall the team looked to hold its shape with every player other than Zaha sitting inside their half. City, who opted for a strikerless formation, sought to find a way through the Palace defence with their passing and skill rather than physicality. 

Tyrick Mitchell, whose talents won't be secret for long, tussled with Kevin de Bryune down Palace's left flank. Joel Ward continued his outstanding season down the right. Dealing with the likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden is an attritional battle for any team, and the concentration required wears a lot of teams down.

Beyond the back four, the midfield engine room played their part. Kouyaté brought the presence needed to disrupt Man City's passing. McArthur and Gallagher continue to defy expectations with tireless energy whilst being at opposite ends of their respective careers. 

In possession, it can still be unnerving to see a Palace team work the ball across the backline against the pressing of Man City, but such has been the improvement under Patrick Vieira. The danger didn't materialise. 

The final passing statistics won't be as pretty as when the team is dominating at home, but it offered relief rather than clearing and giving the ball back to City on every occasion.

Jordan Ayew, who will have been desperate to have scored with his final touch of the game as it sailed wide, continues to be an asset with his direct pressing and ability to close off passing lanes.

VAR saved the team from their only genuine error. Phil Foden fractionally called offside, delivered a perfect cross to Gabriel Jesus to equalise. Vicente Guaita looked like he misjudged the ball's flight as Jesus beat him at the near post. VAR, the villain last week, had a face-turn in this match. 

Attacking Substitutes Deliver Victory

All you can ask from a manager is for them to learn from their mistakes. The Arsenal game will have taught Vieira not to abandon the structure of his pressing midfield in favour of an extra defender. 

Had the team held out in North London, it would be more likely James Tomkins would have been the first preference again in Manchester. Instead, the three moves to bring on Benteke, Schlupp and Olise kept the pressure further up the pitch. 

The fresh legs of Benteke and Schlupp helped to keep up the energy against a City team who were able to throw Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez into the match. Benteke, in particular, showed a fantastic work rate in challenging the Man City defenders, building on the foundations set by McArthur and Gallagher. 

Michael Olise is boasting ridiculous per 90 attacking statistics. Such has his impact been during second-half substitute appearances. Having already helped the team win against Tottenham and muster a comeback draw against Leicester from the bench, his late introduction set the stage once more.

Three minutes remained in regulation time. The Palace defence cleared their lines once more, this time to their young winger. Olise's dribbling turned Jon Stones inside and out on the counter-attack. Having threaded a through ball into the box, Zaha didn't immediately capitalise on it as the City defenders and goalkeeper crowded him out. 

Zaha managed to return the pass to Olise, who again, showing that mature composure Palace fans have already come to expect, calmly teed the ball up for Conor Gallagher to score the second. 

Gallagher went from initially passing the ball to Olise to start the breakaway, only to cover the length of the pitch and finish the move. His determination was outstanding, worthy of the man-of-the-match accolades.  

In the 93rd minute, Olise, again attempting to take on a City defender and attack the area, heeded Joel Ward's advice as he pointed him towards the corner flag to run down the clock. The damage was already done. 

The xG Battle

What team can go to the Etihad Stadium and restrict Manchester City to only 0.66 xG from 14 shots on goal? A Patrick Vieira team. 

The official statistics of 14 shots to 8 and 68% possession to 32% paints a picture of domination for City, but the chances weren't clear-cut. The defence harried and blocked where possible, and Guaita moped up everything else on target. 

The best two chances of the game fell to Palace, who were clinical in finishing both. If a team sets out to be a counter-attacking side, this is the perfect result. 

Next Up: Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

Bruno Lage's team has had an upturn in form after a slow start to the season. Three wins and a draw in the last four matches, before their Sunday fixture against Everton, have helped them climb up the table. 

Playing Wolves would have previously felt like a fixture where Palace would be underdogs in their own stadium, but this will have changed given the team is playing this season.

The talents of their Portuguese core is well known, and Vieria won't necessarily know his best XI following the performance against Man City. But that isn't a bad thing. 

Here, with part 2 of his deep dive into how Palace are conceding goals from set-pieces, is Alex Pewter. 

Defensive Mistake, Bad Luck or Well Worked?

Having looked broadly at the issues and possible solutions for Crystal Palace defending corners, it's on to the goals themselves. Yes, Palace have conceded six goals from corners, but is it possible they just haven't had the rub of the green? Let's take a look: 

#1 Sadio Mané

Straight off the bat, this is the best successful corner routine Palace have faced. Tyrick Mitchell and Christian Benteke are the two "zonal" markers, with Vicente Guaita sitting slightly towards the back post. Conor Gallagher is drawn out to the edge of the box to keep Thiago in check. The rest is man-to-man marking.

The delivery from Kostas Tsimikas is perfect. Mohamed Salah is moving before the kick swings into the area. His marker James McArthur is blocked off by Virgil van Dijk and is forced to move around the back of the pack, where the run of Sadio Mané impeds his run further. 

Salah schemed wide open to win the header forces a good save from Guaita. Mané, who has already moved into the six-yard box, pounces on the rebound. 1-0

Conclusion: Well Worked

It is difficult to assign blame to any of the players on this occasion. The corner routine deserved the goal. Such was the execution. James McArthur's reaction before Mané has even taken his shot is telling. He knows he was well beaten. 

If we were to nitpick, removing Mitchell from the goal-line would have opened up the possibility of catching Mané or any other forward offside after the save, but it looks like Christian Benteke could have kept him on in any case.

Joel Ward is caught on the backfoot and cannot make it out to Salah in time, but he also loses his designated player in the process. His starting position isn't directly in front of his player like the other markers. As a result, he has lost Mané as soon as the kick is taken. 

#2 Mo Salah

Just like the first goal, this is another well-designed move from Liverpool. Palace, though, has ten players in the area to Liverpool's four, including the goalkeeper.

Palace's two "zonal" players and the goalkeeper are in the same location as before, albeit with Odsonne Édouard now in place of Benteke. The three Liverpool players line up one behind the other on the penalty spot, making it difficult for Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen to get tight to their marker. 

Despite the numerical advantage, Cheikhou Kouyaté is, in essence, in no man's land. As the free player, it isn't clear what area he is covering. Without a touch-tight marker in his way, Virgil moves around Ibrahima Konaté to win the flick-on getting in-between the Palace defenders.

Salah has already anticipated the flick on and makes his run towards the back post. His marker, Jaïro Riedewald, is ball-watching from the initial corner and loses his player completely. Salah's shot is hit at such a pace it gives Guaita no chance. 2-0. 

Conclusion: Well Worked/Defensive Error

Liverpool executed this routine to a high level again. They are one of the best sides to taking advantage of dead-ball situations. 

That said, Jaïro Riedewald takes most of the blame here, and this goal, coupled with his marking on the next one, must be a reason he hasn't been selected on the bench since this 25-minute cameo. 

The central defenders could have done better in the air, but Virgil is a 6'4" player with a tremendous vertical leap if he allowed room. Salah wouldn't usually need much space to finish, but Riedewald gave him plenty.

#3 Naby Keita

Keita took the headlines with this one, and it is a wonderfully struck volley from a technical perspective. Mitchell is no longer on the front post and is on the edge of the area, near the taker. Édouard is the lone outfield player free in the six-yard box.

Tsimikas, now in-swinging the ball from the other side of the pitch, doesn't manage to find a player. The movement is not as precise as the previous two goals, and it seems just to be aimed at Virgil's head.

Guaita deals reasonably well as he reaches over the top of his player and punches it away, beating two Liverpool players to the ball. He ends up on his knees and far off his line as a consequence. 

Riedewald once again makes the error, ball-watching for a second time. He drifts in beyond the penalty spot as the cross is being dealt with by Guaita. He ends up 5-6 yards off the player he was meant to be covering on the edge of the area.

Guaita, out of position anyway, is beaten by a superb strike. 3-0.

Conclusion: Defensive Error

It's hard to say this corner was well-worked, as it was a basic routine by Liverpool aiming to take advantage of their tallest player. Guaita does the hard work trying to clear the ball and would ideally want the punch to go wider but isn't at fault overall. 

Defending corners successfully and consistently isn't about individual effort but working as a unit. If that unit has a weak spot, it can all fall apart. On this occasion, whilst it had little bearing on the result, Riedewald needed to be in a position to win the second ball and block any shots coming back.

#4 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

In contrast to the Liverpool game where Tsimikas was a constant threat as a taker, this goal wasn't about the quality of the corner, rather the response to the second phase. 

The ball is very overhit as it sails, untouched, beyond every Palace and Arsenal player. Nicolas Pépé collects the ball out near the touchline and is released by a 1-2 with Takehiro Tomiyasu. Jordan Ayew and Ward are bystanders as Pépé breaks into the area.

Mitchell attempts to close off the lane rather than committing fully to closing him down. Pépé's shot, an excellent curling effort from out wide, is met with a decent save by Guaita. Aubameyang is first to react, effectively given an open goal, turns in a volley with his left foot. 1-0.

Conclusion: Bad Luck

There are faults here, as the team are slow to reset. Palace have generally been good at keeping the ball ahead of them with a good structure in open play. Responding to the game when it breaks down hasn't been as consistent.

Ward and Ayew have to cover a lot of ground to try and close down Pépé, but he and Tomiyasu are quickly set by comparison. The save from Guaita deserved to keep the scores level, but he is unlucky not to get more on it. 

Most of the defence had little they could have done in this instance, apart from McArthur's positioning against Aubameyang as he allows him the outside. McArthur's attempt to check him with his arm is evaded as the striker cooly finishes.

#5 Alexandre Lacazette

Nerves setting and a catalogue of errors lead to the Arsenal equaliser on Monday Night Football. Sometimes less is more, as the decision to drop deeper whilst adding an extra central defender helped add to some of the confusion at the back. 

Palace initially deals with the corner at the near post before the taker Pépé can collect the ball and put in another cross. Andersen wildly chases the ball down along with Michael Olise, as neither manages to stop the ball into the area whilst taking themselves out of play, nothing is gained, but Andersen's height is taken out of the box.

Palace fails to organise themselves or clear their lines. Instead, they maintain a line deeper than the penalty spot. Here is where the mass of defenders backfire, as no player can get a clean head on the ball. Ward and Tomkins collide, going for the first ball, Benteke backs into Kouyaté for the second.  

Only Ben White seems to read where the ball may fall as he peels away from his marker. His volley cannons off Gabriel Martinelli, forcing a reaction save from Guaita with his foot.

The fatal moment for the defence came from McArthur, who is the lone player to drift back onto the goal-line. Alexandre Lacazette saved from being flagged offside equalises. 2-2. 

Conclusion: Defensive Error

The panic at the end of the Brighton game was repeated at the end of the Arsenal one. Patrick Vieira was guilty of sitting deeper and deeper whilst removing the pressing that helped close Arsenal down earlier in the game. Possibly this was an overcorrection due to the late equaliser the week prior. 

Too many bodies in the box, a lack of organisation and leadership was on show. The goal was the symptom rather than the cause. Bringing James Tomkins into the game isn't necessarily a wrong move. Adding him into the mix in place of Anderson or Guehi would have maintained the shape, prevented crowding in the box whilst adding a more physical presence in the air.

James McArthur was the only player to drift back onto the goal-line. Therefore this wasn't part of the plan but more instinctual. If a team wishes to commit to bringing players into that position, more of them need to do it. Guaita can have a player covering his right as well. That may have blocked Lacazette's shot on the line. If the team is asked to hold the line in these moments, everyone has to do it.

#6 Callum Wilson

The best finish of the six, Callum Wilson's athleticism brought his side back into the game. Palace have set up with three players in the six-yard box, along with Guaita. Four players man-marking with Gallagher covering the edge. Eight players in the area, against five Newcastle players. 

Unlike any of the other conceded goals, this was a back-post corner. Three defenders all go for the same ball but miss the flight, leaving Jamaal Lascelles the chance to play the ball back across the box.

Emil Krafth has little time to react but can keep the ball up without much power behind it. Wilson is the first to read the ball's flight and sets himself to shoot, having drifted away from McArthur. 1-1. 

Conclusion: Bad Luck

Like the Arsenal game, although this was the first phase of defending, multiple players go for the same ball and fail to make contact. In theory, Andersen is the tallest player in the box, yet Lascelles is better positioned to win the battle.

Like we've seen in other goals conceded, the man-markers become clustered, meaning no one gets a clear sight of the ball. 

When a player does that and hits the top corner, it's difficult to be overly critical of the defence, as had he attempted the shot in any other fashion, McArthur would have shut him down. 

The outcome of the game ending as a draw was less about conceding this but playing with fine margins, to begin with, rather than putting it away earlier. 

Summary

It's a mixed bag for Palace. Liverpool is a well-drilled side when it comes to taking advantage of set-pieces, but the three-goal advantage undermined a valiant effort in open play.

Aside from Liverpool's efforts and benefit of the doubt given due to the quality of Wilson's finish, there is a lot to work on as the season continues. A lot of these goals were avoidable errors.

If you multiplied out the six goals conceded in nine games, the club is projected to concede 25 in total. That is entirely unrealistic, but given the organisation in open play, this area needs attention.