Manchester City came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium and move to the first four.
The goals from Ebechi Eze and Chris Richards gave Palace two at the beginning of the game when Eze had another exclusion for offside, which would give Oliver Glasner’s side of the three goal advantage. As it was, Man City gathered well to turn the game on his head.
The impressive Kevin de Bruyne scored from a free kick to pull one back and Omar Marmoush closed soon after the second second second. Mateo Kovacic scored 77 seconds after restart before James McATee made four at his first league start for the city.
The fifth came when Nico O’Reilly, another Academy graduate, saw his volleyball diverting for his first Premier League goal. Glasner will be frustrated by the easy palace without Captain Marc Guehi, but previously undefeated in 2025, eventually got into the city.
Their fees on the table suffer from this defeat, their focus now turns to the FA Cup and an attractive view of the possible urban retaliation in the finals. As for the Guardiola page, this victory moves to two points of the Nottingham Forest in the third place.
De Bruyne again plays for the city
From the city’s point of view, the catalyst of the comeback was undoubtedly de Bruyne. The atmosphere was tense when he stood over this free kick with his side of two behind and nervous teammates. With one swing of her famous right shoe, the mood moved.
He was involved in the second goal and founded the third, woken up in an advanced role he was allowed when Erling Haaland and Marmoush were happier drifted. At the age of 33 he is around his peak. But the city will still be missing in great moments.
Man City Rally but look vulnerable
The game was heard when Eze thought he had put the palace 3-0 up. The English player leaked the class all the time and he ended up with the aplomb, but he would surely be frustrated that he left the city out of the hook because there was no big reason for him to be offside.
The city was equally open and if it was holding its run, it would be few differences in the result. This will be Glasner’s regret, but Guardioles. The same promising game of the city was offensive, it was another alarming defensive demonstration on his part.
It was not so long ago that Guardiola decided that the establishment of four natural central defenders across the rear line is the best way to achieve success, but with Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake he rely on two young back.
Rico Lewis and O’Reilly have a lot of talent, but they were often placed high on the pitch and protection was simply not for Ruben Dias and Josko Gardiol. Yet the simplicity with which Richards nodded from the corner indicates that the problems are going deeper.
More follow …
