Crystal Palace's difficult start to the Premier League season continued with a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City on Friday. The loss leaves the Eagles 19th in the table with zero points from two matches, having conceded six goals and scored just one for a -5 goal difference.
What went wrong for Palace against City?
According to reports from The Athletic and AP, Palace struggled to contain City's attacking talent throughout the match at Selhurst Park. Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a header in the 17th minute, and Rayan Cherki doubled the lead early in the second half with a close-range finish. Yeremy Pino gave the home side brief hope when his free-kick deflected in off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 56th minute, but Cherki restored City's two-goal cushion just two minutes later with a deflected strike from outside the box. Haaland completed the scoring with a left-footed effort six minutes from time.
Midfielder Adam Wharton, quoted by AP, acknowledged the team's shortcomings. "I thought we had good moments but we didn't test their keeper enough, like we should have," Wharton said. He suggested the squad is still adapting to the methods of new manager Pierre Sage, who took charge in June.
How is the new manager's system being implemented?
Pierre Sage's tactical approach remains a work in progress, as noted in coverage from Khel Now. The outlet reported that Marc Guehi, who was deployed in midfield during the season opener against Bournemouth, returned to a central defensive role for this match. This adjustment was intended to solidify the back line but did little to stem the tide against City's relentless attack.
Wharton's comments to AP reinforce the idea of a team in transition. "We are trying to work every day and implement the gaffer's way of playing in and out of possession," the midfielder stated. The immediate results have been challenging, with Palace now six points behind early leaders Manchester City in the title race, though survival is the more pressing concern. You can track the team's progress in our standings.
What did Rayan Cherki say after the match?
The French midfielder was central to City's victory, scoring two goals in a five-minute spell. Despite the brace, his first in the Premier League, Cherki gave a surprisingly critical assessment of his own performance. In quotes carried by Sportsnet Soccer and AP, he described his display as "so-so."
Cherki revealed his motivation stemmed from seeing he was about to be substituted. "When I see Enzo Maresca wanted to change me I didn't like that, so I had to show him I wanted to play and wanted to score," he said. He also acknowledged the new era under Maresca, following Pep Guardiola's departure. "With Pep Guardiola we had a big history. Now we have started another story."
What's next for Crystal Palace?
Attention now turns to halting this losing streak. Palace's next fixture is an away trip to face Fulham on Saturday, September 5th. Fulham currently sit 14th in the table, making it a vital early-season encounter for Sage's side as they search for their first points.
The team's current form of two losses highlights the need for rapid improvement, particularly in defense. With one goal scored and six conceded, tightening up at the back will be a priority before the visit to Craven Cottage. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. The international break that follows will provide a longer period for Sage to work with his squad, but securing a positive result against Fulham is the immediate and urgent objective.
