Rayan Cherki scored twice as Manchester City secured a 4-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, extending their perfect start to the season. Erling Haaland also netted twice for the visitors.
City's perfect start continues
After surviving a bright start from the hosts, City took the lead through Haaland. Cherki then doubled their lead with a brilliant individual goal after the break. Palace found a foothold moments later as Yeremy Pino's free-kick found the net via a touch off Gianluigi Donnarumma. But Cherki was not done, hammering home a brilliant second, and Haaland also doubled his evening's work late on.
The victory leaves new boss Enzo Maresca with a 100% record after two Premier League matches at the helm, while Pierre Sage remains without a point as Palace manager.
Haaland's Selhurst Park streak continues
After failing to find the net on the opening day for the first time in his Premier League career, Haaland returned to scoring form at Selhurst Park, where he has now netted on every appearance. His first goal was trademark Haaland: Semenyo whipped a ball into the penalty area, and the striker, having escaped his marker, nodded a brilliant effort into the net. He was then on hand late on to latch onto Foden's clever pass and thump a thunderous effort past Dean Henderson.
With three Premier League golden boots to his name, his fight to secure a fourth is well and truly underway.
Mixed evening for Foden
City should have been at least 3-0 up by the break, but Phil Foden was guilty of missing more than presentable opportunities. His first chance came after being picked out by Elliot Anderson, with pretty much the whole goal to aim at, but he curled his effort high over the crossbar. His second opportunity came at the end of a flowing move which saw Nico O'Reilly and Cherki combine; the latter picked out Foden with a brilliant cross, but the England man got his header horribly wrong. Despite that, he still managed to rack up two assists on a productive outing.
Cherki brilliance and Pino's pinpoint strike
While Foden struggled in front of goal, he was on hand to tee up Cherki for what looks to be one of the goals of the season already. Foden drove into the box and picked out the French playmaker, who showed great feet to dance around three Palace bodies. Just as he looked about to be crowded out, he poked the ball into the far corner with the outside of his foot. The Frenchman was on the scoresheet again with a stunning drive that flew into the top corner. After his standout debut season in the Premier League, Cherki looks set to be even better this time around.
Just minutes after City extended their lead, the home side cut the deficit. Anderson was somewhat unfortunate to give away a free kick on the edge of the area, which Pino claimed. The Spaniard's effort was precise enough to strike the ball, drop onto the back of City goalkeeper Donnarumma, and into the net. Pino scored just twice in the Premier League last season following a move from Villarreal, so will be hoping to improve on those numbers.
Contrasting fortunes for new bosses
Pierre Sage will have been keen to swap his results for Maresca's. The Frenchman has not had the best start to life at Palace, having lost each of his opening two games. It is not quite a crisis yet - the Eagles did show some promising signs against City despite the scoreline - but Sage will be hoping to get his first victory sooner rather than later, or Palace could find themselves nervously looking over their shoulder.
Maresca, in the meantime, has won each of his matches as City boss. They do not quite look at their very best yet - which is a scary prospect given their display at Selhurst Park - but the results are positive, which is all that matters at this stage.
