Cherki and Haaland shine as Man City crush Crystal Palace 4-1

Manchester City made it two Premier League wins from two under Enzo Maresca after Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland both scored twice in a convincing 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Haaland opened the scoring in the first half before Cherki produced two moments of individual brilliance after the break. Palace pulled one goal back through an own goal involving Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Haaland struck again late on to complete City's emphatic victory.

The result leaves City top of the early Premier League table with six points from their opening two matches, while Crystal Palace remain without a win after suffering a second consecutive defeat under new manager Pierre Sage.

Haaland gives Man City the lead

Palace started brightly and looked capable of making life difficult for the visitors, but City's quality eventually told.

In the 17th minute, Haaland rose above Chris Richards to meet a cross from the left and directed a looping header beyond Dean Henderson. It was the Norwegian striker's first goal of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

City could have extended their advantage before half-time. Phil Foden missed a one-on-one opportunity before heading wide when presented with another excellent opening.

Palace also had their chances. Marc Guéhi and Adam Wharton helped create opportunities for the hosts, with Tyrick Mitchell coming particularly close when his downward header bounced wide.

Cherki produces two moments of magic

City's second goal arrived nine minutes after the restart and belonged almost entirely to Cherki. The Frenchman collected Foden's pass inside the Palace penalty area before navigating his way through several defenders. He then produced a delicate finish with the outside of his boot to beat Henderson and make it 2-0.

Palace responded almost immediately.

Yeremy Pino won a free-kick from around 25 yards and produced an excellent effort that curled over the wall and struck the crossbar. The rebound hit Donnarumma and crossed the line, giving Palace a route back into the contest through an own goal.

But their hopes lasted only three minutes.

Cherki was given too much room in midfield and took advantage, cutting inside before unleashing a long-range effort. His shot took a deflection off Richards and flew beyond Henderson to restore City's two-goal advantage.

The second goal completed a remarkable spell for the 23-year-old, who had already provided two assists in City's previous league match against Bournemouth.

Haaland seals another convincing win

Palace continued to search for another opening, but City remained in control for much of the closing stages. The visitors eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 84th minute. Guéhi intercepted a pass from Richards before finding Foden, who carried the ball into the box and set up Haaland.

The striker made no mistake, firing past Henderson to claim his second goal of the night and City's fourth.

Palace's late efforts could not change the outcome, leaving Sage still waiting for his first victory since taking charge.

Maresca praises Cherki's work off the ball

Maresca was pleased with both the result and his team's overall intensity at a difficult venue. The City manager highlighted Cherki's attacking contribution but also praised his work without possession, particularly his efforts in dealing with Wharton.

Cherki himself was more critical of his display despite his two goals, admitting that he felt he had struggled during the first half. He also revealed his frustration at the possibility of being substituted before deciding to show his desire to remain on the pitch.

Haaland jokingly interrupted the midfielder during his interview, insisting that Cherki should acknowledge the quality of the two goals he had scored.

Palace suffer another defeat under Sage

For Palace, the defeat extended a difficult beginning under Sage. The hosts remained competitive for large periods and created opportunities, but their inability to convert those chances proved costly against a City side that punished defensive mistakes.

Sage was particularly unhappy with the drop in energy following his substitutions. He acknowledged that fatigue was a factor, with Palace still catching up on their pre-season preparations, but felt the replacements did not provide the expected intensity.

The 4-1 defeat leaves Palace bottom of the early Premier League table with two defeats from two matches.

What the result means

Manchester City have made an ideal start to Maresca's Premier League reign, winning both of their opening fixtures and scoring six goals in the process.

For Palace, the immediate priority is to find a first victory under Sage and improve their attacking efficiency after another match in which they created opportunities without getting enough reward.

City's next fixtures will provide a stronger indication of whether this impressive opening represents the beginning of a sustained title challenge, but Maresca could hardly have asked for a better start.

Key Takeaways

• Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park.
• Erling Haaland scored twice, including City's opener and fourth goal.
• Rayan Cherki also netted a brace after the break.
• Yeremy Pino's free-kick led to a Gianluigi Donnarumma own goal for Palace.
• City have won both of their opening Premier League matches under Enzo Maresca.
• Crystal Palace have lost their first two league matches under Pierre Sage.
• City sit top of the early Premier League table with six points.

SportsLigue