Manchester City went into this game in great form. They were top of the Premier League and in their last league match, they smashed Watford 6-0. But with Manchester United breathing down their necks in the table, City knew they had to win and win comfortably in order to stay top of the table.
City looked slightly shaky in the first half. They were struggling to take chances and could have well gone behind. However, their quality shone through and they found themselves 1-0 up at halftime. They came alive in the second half and ran the show. It is easy to see why they are top of the league.
Here are the Manchester City player ratings from their win over Crystal Palace
Ederson: 7/10
Ederson had very little to do in the first half. There was nothing he could do about Loftus-Cheek’s chance that hit the post. Ederson also had very little to do in the second half. He ended the day with a clean sheet.
Kyle Walker: 7/10
Walker did a decent job of keeping Schlupp quiet in the first half. He moved over to centre back for most of the second half and was largely untroubled. An easy game for Walker.
John Stones: 5.5/10
Stones looked a bit shaky earlier on and was beaten way too easily by Loftus-Cheek. He nearly gave Loftus-Cheek another chance in the second half. He was then subbed off on 69 minutes. Not a great performance from Stones who didn’t do well with what little he had to deal with.
Nicolas Otamendi: 6.5/10
Otamendi struggled somewhat in the first half. Especially when marking Benteke who won nearly every header he challenged for.
Otamendi barley touched the ball in the second half due to Palace barley attacking. Another easy day for the centre back.
Mendy: 5/10
Mendy was taken off after just 29 minutes due to an injury. He did not do a lot wrong while he was on.
Fernandinho: 7/10
Fernandinho had the easiest chance to put City 1-0 on 11 minutes. But he put it straight at the keeper.
He then whipped a good ball into the box on 42 minutes to Silva who headed over. Overall, he did well defensively for City and helped start off several attacks.
Leroy Sane: 9/10
Sane linked up well with David Silva to create a great chance for Aguero who should have scored.
Sane then pulled out a stroke of brilliance in the 44th minutes. The winger lifted the ball over Dann and slotted passed Hennessey to make it 1-0. The German then showed great pace to beat Fosu-Mensah and cross to Sterling for City’s second.
Sane was then one on one with the keeper on 59 minutes. But he hit it straight at the keeper when he really should have scored. He then got another assist in the 78th-minute curling in a superb cross for Aguero who headed in.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8/10
De Bruyne did not have the best first half by his standards. However, he did put together a good few passes.
The second half was better for De Bruyne with him sending Sane through who then set up Sterling to score. De Bruyne then played a great long ball to Aguero who set up Sterling for 3-0. Today was not De Bruyne’s best day but he was still quality.
David Silva: 8.5/10
Silva put a good ball into Aguero on 32 minutes but the striker hit it over. He then got on the end of a good Fernandinho cross which he headed over.
Silva then played a great ball to Sane who took it past Dann to score City’s first. Silva also got the assist for Delph’s goal in the 89th minute. Another good game from the Spaniard who controlled much of the game.
Raheem Sterling: 9/10
Sterling looked bright early on cutting inside and curling one at Hennessey who saved. He then did well to get on the end of Sane’s cross to put City 2-0 up on 50 minutes.
Sterling had another great chance moments later that Hennessey put on a plate for him. He shot wide though when he really should have scored.
The winger was, then gifted another goal when Aguero squared it to him for a tap-in. Sterling was the replaced on 61 minutes. Overall a very good performance from Sterling who could have well had a hattrick.
Sergio Aguero: 8.5/10
Aguero’s first real chance came on 32 minutes when Silva cut it back to him. Aguero was unmarked but somehow lifted it over. Sergio had quite a poor first half compared to what he is capable of.
Aguero showed his class on 57 minutes though. He dribbled past four Palace defenders before forcing a great save out of Hennessey. About a minute later Aguero then cut it back to Sterling for their 3rd.
Aguero the finally got his goal in the 78th minute, heading in from a Sane cross.
Substitutes
Danilo: 6.5/10 (29minutes)
Danilo had very little to do when he came on. Townsend was a bit of a problem but the Brazilian just brought him down several times.
Bernardo Silva: 5.5/10 (60 minutes)
A very quiet 30 minutes for Silva. Sterling had a much better game on the right and it is hard to see Silva starting anytime soon if his performances are as average as they were today.
Fabien Delph: 6.5/10 (69 minutes)
Delph scored the goal of the day when he came on. He finessed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. It was an unstoppable strike.
