Crystal Palace 1 Man City 4: Rayan Cherki’s magic inspires stunning win as Erling Haaland off the mark for the season

PEP GUARDIOLA left Enzo Maresca huge shoes to fill, but also a boy with magic in his boots. If you need someone to build a new era around, Rayan Cherki does not seem like a bad bet. Oh, and you can have Erling Haaland chipping in a few goals too. Rayan Cherki’s brace helped Man City to victory over Crystal Palace Credit: AP Erling Haaland got his first goals of the season Credit: PA This was not vintage Manchester City but, just like last week, they came away with three points and this time round it was more convincing. Cherki scored twice, the first a stunning show of agility and strength, with Haaland bookending the night with a brace of his own. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Maresca wants more captains and leaders in this Manchester City squad. Haaland can do that from the front and by example, but if there is a spirit needed to define what City might become next, it could be Cherki’s – chest out and cheeky on the ball. His first goal saw the Frenchman deal with the entire Palace back three, wriggling around Jaydee Canvot, holding off Chris Richards before lazily prodding the ball the other side of Takehiro Tomiyasu, on his knees having been so roundly tucked up. The second, five minutes later and after Yeremy Pino’s free-kick had given the hosts hope after going in via Gianluigi Donnarumma’s back, saw him collect the ball, swivel, drive and unleash a powerful strike from range which flew past Dean Henderson with the help of a deflection. During the scouting of Cherki, City staff noted that he compared well to Kevin de Bruyne. There is some way to go yet, but the boy is certainly heading in the right direction. Having made a surprise appearance in midfield on the opening weekend, Marc Guehi – back at Selhurst Park for the first time since leaving in January – slotted back into defence, with Nico O’Reilly alongside Elliot Anderson in the middle. The re-jig made sense but, early on, Maresca’s men looked unable to gain any rhythm, playing – as was his way at Chelsea – too slowly to get anything dangerous going while Palace had chances through Eddie Nketiah and Daichi Kamada. Most read in Sport But it did not take long for them to go through the gears and ramp up the pressure to find the opening, with some generous defending from Palace along the way. Antoine Semenyo was given the space to lift a looping ball into the box from the left where Haaland was able to slip through a shaky-looking back three to rise and head across goal for his first of the campaign. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS The Norwegian has shown he is happy to score against anyone in the Premier League since arriving. But he has a particular fondness for Crystal Palace. Not one league game against the Eagles has gone by without Haaland finding the net, this his ninth in seven meetings. Crystal Palace have been beset by problems this week. They were without Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr through injuries mysteriously picked up while both are seeking moves elsewhere before Tuesday’s deadline. Chadi Riad could be out for the season while Daniel Munoz was benched with his future uncertain. So it would have been fair game, with a makeshift back line, for Palace to crumble from here. If Phil Foden had been up to the standards we know he is capable of, then Palace probably would have done. City’s struggling star was picked out, alone ten yards from goal, by Anderson but came closer to the Sainsbury’s roof behind The Whitehorse Lane stand than the back of the net. He saw another close range header scrambled clear from the six-yard box moments later as Palace hung in. Foden was getting in good spots but whether it is cutting edge or confidence, something remains missing. Haaland finished off the scoring Credit: Reuters Gianluigi Donnarumma was unfortunate to concede an own goal Credit: Reuters Pierre Sage’s side remained a threat largely due to the talent of Adam Wharton alone. Overlooked by Thomas Tuchel, who was watching from the stands, for the World Cup and a target for City themselves this summer – he was on a mission to impress. And succeeding. Wharton’s range of passing, always fast and forwards, was on full display while he was often the one to drag the hosts up the pitch and out of danger with the ball at his feet. It is surely too late for anyone to tempt Palace into a sale now, but it feels a dereliction of duty from the bigger clubs not to have made an attempt. But for all his fine efforts, Cherki then shoved everyone else out of the limelight and took a firm hold on the evening. Maresca was able to hand a debut to new man Ayyoub Bouaddi before Haaland sent a rocket into the near post to join Cherki on a brace. Comment now