Manchester City continued their winning start to the 2026-27 Premier League season on Friday with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute and then scored again late in the second half, while Rayan Cherki bagged himself a brace in an excellent showing for the Frenchman.
Palace thought they'd gotten themselves back into the game when they halved the deficit at 2-1 but Cherki hit back just two minutes after Gianluigi Donnarumma's own goal to make it 3-1. Haaland then struck again in the 84th minute.
Here's how Man City's players fared in their second Premier League game of the season.
Manager rating (Out of 10)
Enzo Maresca, 10 -- That's two wins in two for the man who has the unenviable task of following in Pep Guardiola's footsteps. And this time, his side didn't leave it late to secure the victory! City cruised past Palace and Maresca's decision to start Cherki in this match paid off as he was repaid with a brace and a brilliant performance from the former Lyon man. After the dismal FA Community Shield showing against Arsenal, Maresca has gotten City to bounce back quickly by picking up all available points from his first two Premier League games.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)
GK Gianluigi Donnarumma, 5 -- Donnarumma is marked down here mostly due to his unfortunate own goal, as the ball bounced off his back and into the net from Yeremy Pino's free-kick. The Italian didn't have too much to do throughout the game as City dominated Palace.
RB Abdukodir Khusanov, 8 -- Like Donnarumma, he didn't have a huge amount to do but he was tidy in possession and helped to keep the Palace forwards quiet.
LB Josko Gvardiol, 8 -- The Croatian did his job and ensured that Donnarumma didn't have much to worry about. A mature display from the man who scored the winner for City against Bournemouth last weekend. Also nabbed himself an assist for Cherki's second goal.
CB Marc Guéhi, 8 -- Assured, calm and collected as ever. Guéhi rarely panics and he defended confidently against a lacklustre Palace at Selhurst Park.
CB Rúben Dias, 8 -- Like his centre-back partner Guéhi, captain Dias was commanding at the back. He continues to be a core member of this City squad, even under a new head coach.
CM Elliot Anderson, 8 -- At the heart of midfield again, played with confidence and controlled the tempo of the game as City ran rampant over the Eagles. The former Nottingham Forest man is settling in nicely to life at City.