That was so comfortable for Man City, and yet they weren’t at their sizzling best. Wayne Hennessey made a bad error for the first goal, and City never looked back: they played fine, and they looked solid in defence, but Palace made it easy for them. That’s now five games without a goal for the Eagles, and Alan Pardew has problems.
David Silva looked good for City, though, and Aguero took his goals well. City go back to the top – at least for a bit.
Thanks for reading. Bye.
Updated
Full-time: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace
And there’s the whistle.
90 min +1: Delph boots it out of play, and that should be it.
90 min: Two minutes of stoppage time. De Bruyne spins Cabaye, and this should be a red card, but Jon Moss does him a huge favour and keeps the card in the pocket. That was a certain second yellow. Lucky Yohan!
89 min: A bad tackle from Cabaye on Otamendi, and a clear booking. That was pretty crude – extremely late as Otamendi released the ball. No argument from Cabaye.
88 min: Puncheon kicks David Silva, and then raises a hand in apology. One player for City who has been under-par is Kevin de Bruyne: lots of sloppy passing today. Is he going through a lean spell?
86 min: City fancy a fifth. Palace are glum. Weirdly, City haven’t been brilliant today; they were probably better against Everton. And yet they’re 4-0 up! Zany, huh?
85 min: That’s Aguero’s last action, and he’s replaced by Jesus Navas. Lee Chung-young is on for Wilf Zaha, too.
84 min: Wonderful unselfish play from Aguero, and this is turning into a rout. Palace sent everyone forward, but it was cleared, and suddenly City were away: Aguero just burned Soare for pace on the break, and then tapped it across for Silva, in support, who took a touch and fired home, with Hennessey out of the game. Great play.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace (David Silva 84)
… and make it four.
Updated
83 min: Aguero’s touch is heavy, and in trying to win it back he’s late on Puncheon. Free kick to Palace, and everyone goes forward. Puncheon takes, but City clear, and they can break at speed …
82 min: It is Toure … but it’s into the wall. Disappointing.
81 min: Silva, who’s been at the heart of City’s best work, is fouled about 25 yards from goal. Ledley doesn’t like the decision, but it was the correct one. Toure to try one?
80 min: Palace bring on Jordon Mutch for James McArthur. Obviously the game’s beyond them, but a Palace goal would be really welcome.
79 min: Aguero runs at Joel Ward on the left flank and wins a corner. Silva takes, but the ball curled out of play, and it’ll be a goal kick.
77 min: Oh my, what a wonderful effort from Yohan Cabaye, and so unlucky: he took a touch and slammed one from about 30 yards, with so much swerve, and it was this close to a goal. Hart dived full length, but wouldn’t have saved it. Really unlucky.
76 min: Ooh, sloppy from De Bruyne: he tried to play in Aguero, who would have been clear on goal, but the pass was massively overhit. “That was not a difficult pass,” says Davie Provan on commentary, with typical understatement.
74 min: Delph has been busy in midfield, and that’s a nice body swerve to beat his man and find Zabaleta on the right. City happy to keep possession, although there are more goals in this if they fancy.
73 min: Great control from Silva to accept Aguero’s drilled pass in the box, but his shot is wide, and he lets out an anguished cry. Decent chance.
Updated
71 min: Palace look completely downcast, and Chamakh is booked for diving. Demichelis got tight to him in the box, and maybe there was a little clip, but Chamakh went down dramatically, and Jon Moss brought out his yellow card. Chamakh looked sheepish. No argument from him.
69 min: David Silva did superbly to tackle Cabaye cleanly, and he eased forward before feeding Aguero on the edge of the box. Aguero found Toure, who played a beautifully disguised pass for De Bruyne, free on the right, and De Bruyne was really unselfish, cutting it back across the six-yard box for Aguero, who tapped home. Excellent play from City’s quartet of premier performers.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace (Aguero 68)
That’s a wonderful team goal.
Updated
66 min: We’re in a sloppy phase. Both teams keep giving it back to each other. Delaney bumps into the linesman on the left side, and everyone has a laugh. It was funny!
64 min: Zaha did really well to take on Clichy and fire in a cross … but Palace had too few bodies in the box! That was great play from Zaha. More of that required.
Change for Palace: Chamakh on for Wickham, who’s found it tough going.
62 min: City look comfortable, but that’s a nice combination between Joel Ward and Wilf Zaha: Ward comes forward, exchanges passes with his team-mate and shoots for goal … it’s wide, but that was positive.
60 min: So, an hour gone, and still Palace can’t score. This isn’t terminal, but it’s worrying: they’re solid, and have pace in the side, but at the moment they don’t look like they can hurt defences. Sako, Wickham, Zaha, Gayle, Chamakh and Campbell are willing, but perhaps short on quality, and the midfield, Cabaye aside, is stodgy: Jedinak, Ledley and McArthur aren’t known for their passing. Alan Pardew has some things to think about.
57 min: Poor cross from the left from De Bruyne, who’s been less than his usual effervescent self today.
56 min: Another change for Man City, and Yaya Toure replaces Iheanacho on for his 250th Man City appearance. It hasn’t really happened for Iheanacho today, although he will be credited with an assist for Aguero’s goal.
55 min: There’s a lull. Palace have been pretty good in these 10 minutes, but haven’t worked Joe Hart so far. Zabaleta crosses from the right after good work from Silva and Delph, but the ball is claimed by Hennessey.
53 min: Good win from Fernando, and David Silva completes the clearance.
51 min: Finally Clichy is ready to come on. Kolarov leaving on a stretcher. That was a dumb sequence, though – why did it take Clichy so long to get ready? Whole minutes elapsed before the substitution was made. Kolarov gestured to the bench immediately, and Clichy just sat there gormlessly.
Anyway, we’re ready to continue, and Soare wins the corner after a run down the left. Soare wanted a penalty – it seemed to hit Demichelis on the arm, but nothing doing.
50 min: Kolarov can’t continue, and is making angry signs at the bench, because Gael Clichy is nowhere near ready. This is a farce! Kolarov’s just gone down on the pitch, but Alan Pardew is spewing, because it’s not a head injury, and there’s no reason to stop the game.
Updated
48 min: Kolarov puts the ball out play, and it looks as though he’s hurt his ankle. No sign of Gael Clichy warming up, but Kolarov is struggling. Zaha puts a great ball in, but Wickham can’t quite make it count. Palace have begun really well in this second half.
Updated
47 min: Slightly nervy defending from City, and Scott Dann is screaming for a penalty. He felt as though Otamendi grabbed a handful of his shirt. Jon Moss shakes his head, though.
In weather news, it’s snowing! Moderately sized flakes falling in Manchester.
We're back!
46 min: City kick off, and then give it away immediately. Palace force a throw in City’s left-back slot, and then they win a corner. Good start from the visitors.
Some half-time scores elsewhere:
A strange sort of half: City are in control of the match, but haven’t really played that well, that little five-minute flurry at the end of the half apart. Palace started really well, created one really excellent chance, and were absolutely in the game, but then the goalie made a rick, City got lucky with a deflection for the second, and Palace are looking rather forlorn. Football, eh? It’s tough at the top.
Half-time: Manchester City 2-0 Crystal Palace
That’s the whistle.
Updated
45 min: Just over from Aguero! It fell to him on the left foot, and he went for goal, but it was a couple of inches high.
44 min: It’s cleared, but City are buzzing, and they force another one.
43 min: Ooh, that was lovely from City, and David Silva was at the heart of it: Kolarov, De Bruyne were involved, too, but then Silva quickened the pace, played a lovely one-two with Aguero, but Delaney, I think it was, did well to block the shot. City’s best piece of play, and it’s a corner.
42 min: Well, City are in command here. Iheanacho went clear down the left, but lacked support, so he held it, and found Aguero on the edge of the box. Aguero took a touch, tried to place one from 22 yards or so, and it deflected off Scott Dann’s head to deceive Hennessey. On first glance it looked as though Hennessey had made another error, but the deflection was decisive. City lead by a couple, and yet they haven’t really opened Palace up. Strange.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Crystal Palace (Aguero 41)
Aguero’s first goal against Palace!
Updated
39 min: De Bruyne with City’s second corner, but it’s cleared. Delaney is down for a moment, but he’ll be OK. He’s hard as nails, eh?!
38 min: Ooh, that looked like a penalty! Ledley bumped Aguero from behind, and didn’t get the ball. Aguero did well to play on, and fire off a shot that went just wide, but that was clumsy from Ledley. He’s taking a chance!
36 min: Palace have been really nice in their build-up, and they’ve seen a good amount of the ball: almost 50%. Puncheon and McArthur team up down the left, but Puncheon takes too long, and it’s out for a goal kick. Interestingly, Puncheon hasn’t scored this season. He got six last year – is he short on confidence?
34 min: That was a chance for Iheanacho, actually: he tried to make space for himself by taking it on the chest, but the control let him down, and he missed his subsequent kick completely.
33 min: Palace are so good at winning first balls from set pieces, aren’t they? Again, a Palace head is first to it, but they just can’t quite make it count. Then City counter, and Delph looks for Iheanacho, who was free in the box, momentarily, but he over-elaborates, and the chance is lost.
32 min: Cabaye with it, and Hart pushes it round the post. Good effort, and Hart moved his feet well and got across to palm it clear.
31 min: A bit of space for Puncheon, and he finds Soare on the left flank, in space, but the cross is disappointing. Now Ledley tries to cross from the left, and the ball is cleared, but Delph is then whistled for a trip on Cabaye. Really nice range for Palace here: dead centre, about 25 yards out.
29 min: Wickham breaks for Palace, but he’s a lone Eagle among five sky blue shirts, and the chance is lost. Pardew looks fed up, and well he might.
28 min: Free kick to City on the left. Kolarov’s ball is in fabulous, but Palace do just enough to shuttle it clear.
26 min: Palace are unlucky to be behind here, and Hennessey should have saved that Delph effort. Delph hit it well, but it just ran through Hennessey’s hands. Not a great bit of play from the goalkeeper.
24 min: Palace force a corner. Dann is absolutely free, and wins the header, but it’s straight at Hart: he was quite a long way out and couldn’t get the power.
Then a strange moment: Hart was in a hurry to release the ball, and he tried to kick it from his hands, but McArthur got in the way, and the ball ran loose. Delaney was alert to react, and tried for goal with his left foot, but couldn’t get the control on his effort: it was more of a tackle than a shot, really, and it flew over. But there was no whistle, and it would have counted. Another chance!
Updated
23 min: Well, what a moment. There was no danger, Palace looked good in their defensive shape, and Delph hit one from long range, more in hope than expectation – and Hennessey let it slip through his hands. A bad error, unfortunately, the goalkeeper’s second in a week, and City lead, undeservedly.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace (Delph 22)
Out of nothing!
Updated
20 min: Silva looks unimpressed with this wide left position he’s being asked to take up. Jesus Navas and Sterling are the more natural wide players in this system, of course, but they’re on the bench. Did Pellegrini pick the wrong starting XI?
19 min: Not much intensity from City so far. Silva looks for Aguero running in beyond, but the ball is overhit. It’s not happening for them so far. Manuel Pellegrini looks puzzled.
17 min: City are becalmed. It’s quiet in the stadium.
Jason Barnard has some useful Kevin information: “In France the name has become incredibly popular since the limit on first name restrictions was lifted last century (1990?) One of these guys will follow Zinedine, don’t you think? Kevin was far and away the most popular boy’s name in 1990, by the way. So all those Kevins are 25 now.”
15 min: Second Palace corner, and Dann has this incredible knack of winning the first ball. It pings around in the area, and Wickham’s rushed effort is over the bar, but Palace look characteristically dangerous from set plays.
Updated
14 min: Nice from Palace, and Puncheon looks for Wickham in the box. Demichelis is smartly over, but he can’t stop the corner.
Here’s Kevin Smith: “Does Kevin-Prince Boateng count? Not saying he’d be No1, just curious if the name counts.”
Yes, I’ll allow it.
12 min: This is more like it from the home side, and they’ve pushed Palace back on the edge of their box. Silva larrups one from long distance, and it’s blocked, but City are pressing. Zabaleta robs Puncheon and feeds Aguero, but the striker takes too long and is crowded out before he can produce a shot.
10 min: A spell of possession for City, and Iheanacho does really well to wriggle away from a posse of defenders down the left. A slight suspicion of a trip by Soare on the Nigerian in the box, but no call, and De Bruyne’s cross looks for Aguero at the back post … corner. Well defended by Ward.
De Bruyne’s ball in, but it comes to naught.
Updated
8 min: This is really good from Palace. City have barely had an attack. The Etihad is quiet.
7 min: Cabaye’s ball in is a good one, with dip and pace, but Otamendi does well to win the header, and then the whistle goes for pushing.
Just looking back at the Delaney chance. A free header, absolutely unmarked, but he pushed it straight at Hart. Grr!
6 min: Palace have begun confidently, and Wickham wins a free kick when Otamendi makes a dumb foul from behind, as is his wont. Another opportunity for Palace to get the ball in the box.
5 min: City can’t get on the ball, and Palace hit it long from a free kick on halfway. Dann wins it, but City clear the second ball. De Bruyne brings it clear, but can’t make anything of it.
3 min: Really positive start from Palace. Delaney, the skipper, will be cranky, though: he had time, and it was a free header from six yards. A real missed opportunity.
2 min: Dann jumps high, but Iheanacho does well to clear the danger. And what a magnificent chance for Palace! The visitors recycled it from the corner, Wickham got free down the left and played in a wonderful ball, but Delaney couldn’t find the finish! Great save from Hart, but Delaney should have scored.
Updated
We're off!
1 min: And we’re under way. City in sky blue shorts and white shorts, Palace in red-and-blue stripes with blue shorts. McArthur runs at Kolarov and wins a corner inside a minute. Chance for Palace.
Actually, scrap that. That question is inane. Keegan, perhaps? And Hector, Sheedy and Phillips were good in their day.
Updated
Teams are in the tunnel. Joe Hart, standing next to – and towering over – Pablo Zabaleta, shouts: “Come on Kevin, get on that ball! Get on that ball, Kevin!”
Question. Is M. De Bruyne football’s best ever Kevin?
Anyone got any thoughts? About anything?
And Palace? 4-2-3-1, we think: Wickham will try to hold the ball in attack, and bring in Puncheon and Zaha, while Yohan Cabaye, Palace’s best player by a distance, will pull the strings in midfield and provide Palace’s main threat from set pieces.
Updated
It looks as though it’s 4-4-2 for Man City today, although there’s some contention over how the midfield will line up. Expect Iheanacho and Aguero to start as a conventional front two, but De Bruyne and Silva can flit and raid while Delph and Fernando try to keep the back door shut. Kolarov should, as always, be an attacking threat, too.
David Silva is back in action for Man City today. He didn’t start against Everton, and he hasn’t been himself since coming back from injury, which is a shame, because he’s such a wonderful player to watch, and arguably an underrated one, too. He’s also a big fan of Raheem Sterling:
Four other Premier League games today, of varying engrossment. Simon Burnton has all the latest with the clockwatch:
Sunderland are having another bad day away from home. Follow it here!
So! Some changes for Man City. Pablo Zabaleta comes in for Bacary Sagna, Aleksandar Kolarov comes back for Gael Clichy, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling begin on the bench, and Kelechi Iheanacho gets a starting spot.
For Palace, just one change: Connor Wickham starts up front in place of Bakary Sako.
Your teams
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov, Delph, Fernando, De Bruyne, Silva, Iheanacho, Aguero. Subs: Sagna, Sterling, Caballero, Jesus Navas, Clichy, Toure, Humphreys.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Ledley, Cabaye, McArthur, Puncheon, Wickham, Zaha. Subs: Speroni, Campbell, Lee, Jedinak, Mutch, Chamakh, Kelly.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
Hello and welcome
Man City did everything but score against Everton on Wednesday, but they won’t have impotence issues today, will they? City take on Palace at the Etihad with the chance to go back to the top, albeit on goal difference, and they’ll fancy victory: Palace have been decent this season but have suddenly forgotten how to get goals. (They’ve failed to score in four straight Prem games.) City were very impressive in the week, and they’ve shown signs of cranking it up again after a little end-of-2015 wobble: if Silva, De Bruyne, Aguero and Touré can combine and rove and weave, Palace’s defenders and goalkeeper could be in for an afternoon of furrowed brows and downcast looks. Then again, this Premier League season has been weird. So who really knows?
Kick off’s in about 45 minutes. Join us!
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Manuel Pellegrini on why City are not predictable:
“One of the things this team is not is unpredictable – we have so many ways of playing,” he said. “We continue being the highest scorers in the Premier League for the last three seasons. Not only at home, but away we also try to be an offensive team.
“Teams are always waiting with eight or nine players behind the ball, waiting for us to play. We always try to play with a high tempo – it’s not always easy against eight or nine players near their box. It’s not tempo you need, you need accurate passes in the final third. If we don’t have possession, that can be a matter of pace but we normally have possession in games.”
