Cherki and Haaland inspire Manchester City's dominant win at Palace
Manchester City secured a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace, with Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland each scoring twice. Cherki's performance was praised by manager Enzo Maresca for his work rate and creativity. Crystal Palace remain without a point this season.
Manchester City's victory was built on tactical adjustments from manager Enzo Maresca, who shifted Marc Guéhi back into central defence against his former club and deployed Elliot Anderson as the lone pivot in a 4-1-4-1 shape. The club's summer transfer business remains active, with 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi arriving from Lille for £86m following Morocco's World Cup run, while Chelsea's Enzo Fernández is targeted before Tuesday's deadline to address midfield gaps left by Rodri and Bernardo Silva's departures.
Crystal Palace's winless start continues under Pierre Sage, who retained Oliver Glasner's 3-4-2-1 formation but faced a depleted squad. Jørgen Strand Larsen started in place of the injured Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Ismaïla Sarr was unavailable amid transfer interest from Galatasaray and Daniel Muñoz was benched with Nottingham Forest circling. Palace's defending was repeatedly exposed, particularly on Haaland's opening header from Antoine Semenyo's cross.
This result may intensify pressure on Crystal Palace's management and ownership, as a winless start with key players seeking exits could raise concerns about squad stability and recruitment strategy. For Manchester City, the performance may signal successful post-Guardiola evolution under Maresca, potentially affecting expectations across the league. Fans of both clubs could see transfer deadline activity shift, with City's pursuit of Fernández potentially reshaping Chelsea's midfield plans and Palace's unsettled players influencing other clubs' January approaches.