Crystal Palace v Man City LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Kevin De Bruyne stars in win
Crystal Palace 2-4 Man City: De Bruyne scored twice as Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland also struck to swerve a banana skin in the title race
Manchester City struck first blood in the title race this weekend with a comprehensive 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Heading into the gameweek in third place, City could not afford to drop points and suffered a shock as Jean-Philippe Mateta slotted home a wonderful finish to send Palace ahead inside four minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne, restored to City’s starting XI, decided to lead the response. He nipped in from the left wing and rocketed an equaliser into the back of net before half-time.
After the break, Rico Lewis put City ahead for the first time before De Bruyne set up Erling Haaland and added a fourth – his second – to make the visitors comfortable.
Odsonne Edouard came off the bench for Crystal Palace to poke home a late volley but by then the damage was done. Oliver Glasner will be pleased with the fight his team showed but Man City were too good to be stopped on the day.
Relive all the updates from Selhurst Park below:
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
45 mins: Palace float the ball into the box from the left towards Eberechi Eze. Josko Gvardiol grabs him from behind and the striker falls to ground.
The referee says no penalty and VAR agrees after a check. The Crystal Palace fans aren’t happy.
Three added minutes to play.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
43 mins: Insane!
Palace send the ball into the box from the right wing but it goes down to Rodri. He flicks it back to Ortega who is swept upon by Mateta.
The goalkeeper drags the ball back behind his standing leg as the forward runs past him. He then clears his lines and City are spurred an embarrassing moment.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
40 mins: Rico Lewis creates half a yard inside the Palace box and lets fly on a quick shot. He effort is straight at Dean Henderson who clings onto the ball without too much trouble.
The Palace goalkeeper is having a good day so far.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
37 mins: Woodwork!
A rare mistake from Rodri sees him bullied off the ball by Jordan Ayew. He spins and drives towards the penalty area. Just as he gets into the box Ayew shoots.
The ball continues to rise and hits the top of the crossbar before bouncing out of play.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
33 mins: Nearly!
Tricky footwork from Oscar Bobb out on the right wing sees him beat a couple of defenders before finding Rico Lewis with a short pass.
Lewis’ pull back is a good one but neither Jack Grealish nor Kevin De Bruyne are able to control the ball inside the penalty area.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
30 mins: Josko Gvardiol blazes a shot from range and hits Joel Ward on the head as the defender leaps to block the effort. That one will have stung but Ward shakes it off as City look to come forward once again.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
27 mins: Grealish is down again after Joel Ward’s scrambling effort turns the ball out for a City corner deep in Palace’s half.
Pep Guardiola is pondering this match deeply on the sidelines. Twice City whip corners into the box but twice Ward is there to defend against them.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
24 mins: There’s an electric pace to the match now. City slickly passing the ball around with Palace trying to clear their lines with equal gusto.
Grealish takes a hit after a lunging tackle from Daniel Munoz before Jordan Ayew is bungled to the ground as well.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Man City
21 mins: Chance!
De Bruyne threads an exceptional pass through the middle to play Erling Haaland in behind the Palace defence.
The big forward touches the ball into the box but gets charged down by Dean Henderson who sticks out a leg and manages to keep Haaland’s shot out of the net.
This game has really heated up now.
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