Klopp's first Liverpool loss as leader Man City is held

Turning Liverpool into title challengers will be no quick task for Juergen Klopp. As Premier League pacesetters Manchester City and Arsenal both drew on Sunday, Liverpool experienced its first loss under Klopp at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Going into the international break, the 2-1 Anfield setback left Liverpool with five points from a possible 12 in the post-Brendan Rodgers era — and the only victory came against a Chelsea side which has lost the majority of games in its title defense.

Yannick Bolasie and Scott Dann scored either side of Philippe Coutinho's equalizer to give Palace a third successive league win against Liverpool. As Palace rose to 8th, Liverpool dropped to 10th place, nine points from the summit.

Manchester City stayed top but could not find the net against bottom-place Aston Villa as Remi Garde's managerial reign in Birmingham opened with a 0-0 draw.

After Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernando squandered chances for City, manager Manuel Pellegrini cannot wait for striker Sergio Aguero to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last seven games.

Aguero is poised to be fit after the international break — a comeback that could be essential as Wilfried Bony limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half at Villa Park.

"It will be easier for us to have a striker," Pellegrini said.

For a team that has only won once in the league all season — on the opening day — a point was something to celebrate for Villa.

"I am realistic, we were only threatening sometimes but it's quite a good start," said Garde, who replaced Tim Sherwood. "We have to believe we can be safe. It will be a tough mission even if we have one more point today."

At the top of the standings, Arsenal and Tottenham also had to settle for a point apiece in a 1-1 draw in the north London derby.

Kieran Gibbs was Arsenal's unlikely rescue act. The defender's first league goal since March 2012 came in the 77th minute, three minutes after surprisingly replacing forward Joel Campbell with Arsenal trailing. The provider was less of a surprise, with Mesut Ozil's high ball to Gibbs at the back post his 10th assist in 11 league games.

"Overall (the substitution) worked," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "He gets in good positions and it shows he is an intelligent player."

Arsenal's defense had been too easily penetrated in the 32nd minute for Tottenham's opener by a resurgent Harry Kane scoring his sixth goal in four games. Danny Rose's deep ball down the left flank went straight between Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny and Kane slid the ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

"We showed character and maturity," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said after seeing his team complete a third game in six days that yielded two wins and a draw.

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Why Manchester City pulled out of a move for Neymar

Man City tell Spanish judge they did NOT make a formal bid for Brazil ace.

Manchester City pulled out of making a mega-money move for Neymar to leave the field clear for a tug o'war between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The Blues have confirmed to a Spanish judge that they never made a formal offer to the Brazilian superstar's original club Santos.

The judge in the case approached City, and other leading European clubs, to ask whether they had made a bid for the player in the summer of 2013.

Real Madrid confirmed that they HAD made a formal offer, while Chelsea have yet to respond.

City were interested in Neymar, who was 21 at the time, but realised ti was a straight fight between the two Spanish giants.

Instead, they splashed out on Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Martin Demichelis.

Missing out on the brilliant Brazilian did not harm them too much, as they won the Premier League and League Cup the following season, scoring an English record 156 goals in all competitions.

Neymar is at the centre of two court cases in Spain at the moment, one investigating a complaint that Barcelona and Neymar withheld the true amount of the fee, which Barca said was around £12million.

Fernandinho became City's biggest transfer of 2013 after they pulled out of Neymar hunt

Brazilian investment group DIS that had a 40 per cent stake in the player claimed that the fee was actually much higher and that they had been financially damaged as a result.

Investigations in Spain showed that Barcelona actually spent nearly £60million for the striker.

Neymar

They named Neymar, his father and Barcelona as defendants, along with former Barca president Sandro Rosell and current president Josep Bartomeu.

City held by basement boys

Manchester City came away from the West Midlands witha solitary point to show for their efforts following a goalless stalemate at Villa Park. City had the best chance of the game in the last minute but Fernando's headed effort crashed back off the crossbar.

In the home dugout, Rémi Garde was taking charge of Villa for the first time. Despite this point, the Villains remain bottom of the pile although they have arrested a dismal run of seven successive defeats.

Manuel Pellegrini looked to Jesús Navas when Wilfried Bony was forced to limp off with just 24 minutes on the clock, and with former Liverpool livewire Raheem Sterling on the other flank, City tried to open up the home defence with their pace. The two wingers were involved in City's first real chance of the match, which came in the 53rd minute, the Citizens having come out after the break all guns blazing and intent on cashing in on any slips in the home defence.

American international Brad Guzan made some fine saves in the Villa goal, while Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, who have been so deadly during Sergio Agüero's absence through injury, had seemingly left their scoring boots at home. Any danger posed by Garde's men came from set-pieces but Villa never really troubled Joe Hart in the City goal.

Jesus Navas eyeing Spain recall

Manchester City attacker Jesus Navas has insisted that he will not give up on earning a recall to the Spain squad despite an 18-month absence. 

The 29-year-old made his international debut in 2009 and has racked up 34 appearances for the European champions. 

His last La Roja cap came at the 2014 World Cup, though, and he has not been included in Vicente del Bosque's selection since, despite being a regular for Man City. 

Navas, however, has refused to give up on his dream of returning to the set-up. 

"I've always tried to earn a place in the national team. It's something that I'm working hard for, but only if I do well for City," he told Marca. 

"I've always been proud to play for Spain, and it's an honour to be called by your country. If I get another opportunity then it'd be amazing, as it is for any player. 

"I always try to do my best, and my coaches, teammates and fans make it easier for me. I think they're one of the reasons why I'm playing well right now." 

Spain will face England in an international friendly on Friday

Manchester City's Jesus Navas reveals the Spain ambition behind his hot form

Man City winger's Euro 2016 ambition is fuelling his fight for a place in the Blues team.

Jesus Navas has revealed the burning desire behind his blast back to form with Manchester City.

The Spanish winger is desperate to fight his way back into his national team before Euro 2016 – and the Blues are reaping the benefit.

Navas has not played for Spain since he replaced Andres Iniesta as a substitute in a friendly win over Italy in March 2014 – he was afterwards cut from their World Cup squad.

Jesus Navas playing for Spain in 2013

But he began this season well and after a dip in form is now having one of his best spells as a City player.

He was a key figure in last week's dismantling of his old club Sevilla and came on as a sub to star in the draw at Aston Villa on Sunday.

“I'm always trying to win my place back in the national team,” said Navas. “It's something I'm working hard to try and do, but that will only happen if I'm playing well for City.

Jesus Navas is congratulated by Manuel Pellegrini after the win at Sevilla

“I try my best in every game but the whole team are playing very well and are confident in what we are doing at the moment and I'm happy to be part of it.”

Manuel Pellegrini rates the 29-year-old highly, believing that he gives the team width and shape they often lack with other players.

But Navas played down the fact that he ha the constant trust of the gaffer: “I've had the trust of the manager since I arrived, but the same can be said of my teammates so I don't think I'm any different in that respect.”