Five-star Manchester City demolish Crystal Palace to stay top of table
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ByEurosport
Updated 23/09/2017 at 17:30 GMT
Premier League, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 5 (Sane 44, Sterling 51, 59, Aguero 79, Delph 89) Crystal Palace 0
Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Manchester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester City continued their impressive start to the season with a 5-0 win over struggling Crystal Palace.
Leroy Sane, starting ahead of Gabriel Jesus, had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with a fine individual effort before Raheem Sterling – who has now scored in each of his last four league games – bagged a quick-fire double with two goals inside eight second-half minutes.
Worse was to come for winless Palace as Christian Benteke limped off with an injury. Then Sergio Aguero moved to within a goal of Eric Brook’s club-record tally of 158 strikes as he added a fourth with a powerful header before Fabian Delph’s stunning goal completed the rout.
City, who have now scored 23 goals in just five games, are level on points with bitter rivals Manchester United – who beat Southampton 1-0 – with 16, but top the Premier League courtesy of their superior goal difference.
Meanwhile, Palace, who are now the only side in the big five European leagues yet to score this season, are rooted to the bottom of the table – and face Jose Mourinho’s side next.
TALKING POINT
Injury to Benjamin Mendy means City’s win comes at a cost: The £52m full-back hurt his knee when he fouled Andros Townsend, having to be replaced only a few minutes later. The France international has enjoyed his time in the Premier League and Guardiola will be hoping he isn’t on the sidelines for too long.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Leroy Sane (Manchester City) - Showed his qualities with a well-taken opener and went on to provide two goals for his team-mates to cap an almost a perfect performance.
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Manchester City's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Stones 7, Otamendi 7, Mendy 6, Fernandinho 7, De Bruyne 7, Silva 8, Sterling 9, Sane 9, Aguero 9. Subs: Bernardo 6, Danilo 7, Delph 7.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6, Van Aanholt 5, Dann 5, Sakho 5, Fosu-Mensah 5, Schlupp 5, Cabaye 5, Milivojevic 5, Loftus-Cheek 6, Townsend 6, Benteke 6. Subs: Sako 5, Puncheon 5.
KEY MOMENTS
7’ - NEARLY AN OWN-GOAL! In an attempt to clear De Bruyne's teasing cross, Sakho inadvertently heads the ball against his own post!
18’ - PALACE HIT THE POST! Loftus-Cheek does well to get past Stones, lining himself up for a shot. His effort takes a deflection and cruelly rattles the post. So close to a first goal of the season for Palace!
27’ - WHAT A CHANCE FOR PALACE! The visitors exploit Mendy's side as they break forward on the wing. City fail to clear the cross, it falls to Loftus-Cheek who scuffs his shot wide from only a few yards out!
28’ – MENDY INJURED: His game is over, the full-back walks off to be replaced by Danilo. Hopefully the injury sustained isn't too serious.
44’ - GOAL: CITY ARE AHEAD! They have had to be patient, but City have their break-through on the stroke of half time. A lovely ball over the top releases Sane, his first-touch takes it over the head of Dann and he finishes with a deft touch past Hennessey. A great goal.
51’ - GOAL: STERLING DOUBLES CITY'S ADVANTAGE! Silva finds Sane out wide, he rolls the ball across the face of goal for Sterling who has a simple tap-in at the back post. It is far too easy for the Premier League leaders.
59’ - GOAL: STERLING AT THE DOUBLE! Aguero, so often the goalscorer, turns provider as the Argentine plays a lovely ball across the face for Sterling who, for the second time, has a gaping goal to tap into.
70’ – BENTEKE INJURED: Palace's miserable afternoon may have gone from bad to worse as Benteke appears in some discomfort and will have to be replaced.
79’ - GOAL: AGUERO FINALLY GETS ON THE SCORE SHEET! It has been coming! Sane delivers a pin-point cross to Aguero and his header is so powerful Hennessey simply cannot keep it out.
89’ - GOAL: A STUNNER FROM DELPH!Oh wow, what a goal from the former Aston Villa man. It is inch-perfect as he curls the ball into the top corner from 25 yards. An unbelievable goal to top a fantastic performance from the Premier League leaders.
KEY STATS
- Raheem Sterling has scored five goals in his last four Premier League games, as many as he'd scored in his previous 31.
- Man City are the first side to score five or more goals in three consecutive top-flight games in the same season since Blackburn in 58-59.
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Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their second goal
Image credit: Reuters
- David Silva has provided more assists than any other player in the Premier League this season.
- Leroy Sane has scored five goals from just six shots on target in all competitions for Man City this season.
- Crystal Palace are the first side in English Football League history to lose their first six games of the season without scoring.
- Palace are only the second team in Premier League history to lose their first six games in a season, after Portsmouth in 09-10.
- The Eagles are the only side in the big five European leagues yet to score this season.
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