Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland scored twice each as City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park to maintain their winning start to the Premier League season.
- Rayan Cherki scores twice on first league start of season
- Erling Haaland opens his account with a Selhurst Park double
- City follow Bournemouth victory with much more convincing win
City made it two wins from two in the Premier League as doubles from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland secured an impressive 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
They had needed two late goals to beat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Etihad on the opening weekend, but there was much less drama this time.
Haaland gave Enzo Maresca’s side a first-half lead before Cherki took control of the game after the break, scoring twice in five minutes either side of Palace briefly reducing the deficit.
Haaland then added his second late on to complete a good night’s work in south London.
Haaland strikes before Cherki takes over
Maresca made one change to the side that started against Bournemouth, with Cherki rewarded for his two assists from the bench last weekend by replacing Rico Lewis.
Marc Guéhi returned to central defence alongside Rúben Dias, with Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back and Joško Gvardiol on the left. Elliot Anderson operated at the base of midfield, with Nico O’Reilly given licence to play further forward.
Palace started brightly, and Eddie Nketiah tested Gianluigi Donnarumma inside the opening two minutes, while Daichi Kamada also threatened as Pierre Sage’s side looked to make the most of the Friday-night atmosphere.
City gradually settled and took the lead after 17 minutes.
Antoine Semenyo was given time on the left to deliver into the penalty area, and Haaland climbed to send a clever looping header beyond Dean Henderson.
There were opportunities to add a second before the break. Phil Foden failed to make the most of one opening, while Anderson and Semenyo both tested Henderson.
Palace remained a threat, however, and Nketiah went close again shortly after half-time.
Cherki time
Then Cherki changed the game.
City won possession high up the pitch in the 54th minute, and Foden carried the ball forward before finding the Frenchman.
What followed was the outstanding moment of the night.
Cherki drifted into the penalty area, kept the ball despite being surrounded by Palace defenders and somehow worked enough room to prod his finish beyond Henderson.
It was 2-0, but Palace responded three minutes later.
Yéremy Pino struck a free-kick against the crossbar, and the ball rebounded off the unfortunate Donnarumma and into his own net.
Any suggestion of a Palace comeback lasted barely two minutes.
Cherki found space again in the 59th minute and drove a shot towards goal. A slight deflection off Chris Richards wrong-footed Henderson and restored City’s two-goal advantage.
After his two assists against Bournemouth, Cherki had now directly contributed to four City goals in little more than 100 minutes of Premier League football this season.
Haaland adds the fourth as City see it out comfortably
Palace struggled to recover from Cherki’s second and City increasingly controlled the game.
Mateo Kovačić replaced O’Reilly after 75 minutes before Maresca handed new signing Ayyoub Bouaddi his Premier League debut, the 18-year-old replacing Anderson.
Ryan McAidoo was also introduced for Cherki and almost marked his league debut with a memorable goal, carrying the ball forward before sending his effort narrowly wide.
City did find a fourth in the closing stages.
Foden drove forward and released Haaland, who powered his finish beyond Henderson from an angle to complete his double and put the result beyond any doubt.
It was a very different ending to the opening-day win over Bournemouth.
City had been fortunate to still be within touching distance before their late comeback against Andoni Iraola’s side. At Selhurst Park they were increasingly dominant as the second half developed, with Palace unable to respond once Cherki had restored the two-goal cushion.
There are still questions for Maresca to answer and the squad may yet change before the transfer window closes, but six points from the opening six available represents an excellent start.
More importantly, this looked a significant step forward from last weekend.
Cherki was the difference-maker, Haaland has his first two league goals of the season, and City leave Selhurst Park with their first away win of the campaign.
Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City
Goals: Haaland 17’, Cherki 54’, Donnarumma OG 57’, Cherki 59’, Haaland 84’.
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson (c); Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu; Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Nketiah, Pino; Strand Larsen.
Crystal Palace substitutes: Benítez, Muñoz, Disasi, Mingueza, Hughes, Lerma, Gozo, McNeil, Guessand.
Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Rúben Dias (c), Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, O’Reilly; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Manchester City substitutes: Rulli, Kovačić, Aït-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Echeverri, Bouaddi, McAidoo, Braithwaite, Lewis.
City substitutions: Kovačić for Gvardiol (75’); Bouaddi for Anderson (81’); McAidoo for Cherki (81’); Vitor Reis for Khusanov (89’); Braithwaite for O’Reilly (89′).
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