Crystal Palace suffered a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in a Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park on Friday, August 28. City's Rayan Cherki scored two goals and was named man of the match in a dominant performance reported by Sportskeeda.
Palace now sit 20th in the Premier League with zero points from two games, having scored just once while conceding six. They are six points behind the league leaders, Manchester City. Key players Chadi Riad and Ismaïla Sarr are currently sidelined, as shown on our injuries page.
How did Manchester City win the match?
Manchester City took control early. Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a header in the 17th minute, assisted by Antoine Semenyo. Rayan Cherki then added two more goals to complete his brace. City's fourth came from an own goal by their goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, before Haaland netted his second in the 84th minute. Palace's solitary reply was not enough to change the outcome.
What made Rayan Cherki man of the match?
Cherki's all-around display justified the award. Beyond his two goals, he had three shots on target and made three key passes, creating one big chance. He completed 58 of his 62 pass attempts, succeeded in three dribbles, and won three ground duels. The midfielder also had five touches in the Palace box and completed three ground recoveries during his 82 minutes on the pitch. Fans on social media platform X praised his creativity and technical ability, with one stating, "This is pure greatness."
What is Crystal Palace's current situation?
The loss leaves Palace at the bottom of the standings with a goal difference of minus five after two defeats. Their next challenge is an away trip to face Fulham, who are 12th, on September 5. This forms part of a difficult start to the campaign where they need to find points quickly.
What comes next for Manchester City?
Pep Guardiola's side tops the table with six points from two games, having begun the season with a 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth secured by late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol. Their next match is against Coventry City on Saturday, September 5. After that, they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 13 in the Manchester derby. City's form and squad depth, as seen in their squad list, make them strong early title contenders.
