A Kevin de Bruyne masterclass led Manchester City to a comeback 4-2 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side went level on points with Premier League leaders Liverpool before Jurgen Klopp’s side play at Manchester United on Sunday.
Palace took a shock lead early on through Jean-Phillipe Mateta but City came surging back as Kevin de Bruyne scored a stunner to make it 1-1 at half time. Rico Lewis then made it 2-1 early in the second half before KDB set up Erling Haaland to score a third and then De Bruyne smashed home a beauty after a lovely team move.
Odsonne Edouard scored a late consolation for Palace as Oliver Glasner’s side caused City problems but Guardiola’s boys got the job done with minimum fuss once they found their rhythm.
With the win Manchester City move on 70 points as they’re now unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League games. Palace have won just one of their six games under Glasner and are looking over their shoulders towards the relegation zone as they have 30 points and are winless in five after a run of one win in nine.
De Bruyne back to his best at perfect time
This week there was talk that Kevin de Bruyne is perhaps holding back Phil Foden after the latter scored a hat trick in City’s midweek win against Aston Villa from KDB’s usual central role. De Bruyne is the type of personality who would have taken that talk very personally and at Crystal Palace he responded by scoring two beauties, setting up another and he played with that chip on his shoulder once again. De Bruyne said Foden’s form “keeps him on his toes” when speaking to TNT Sports after the game. Guardiola told TNT that De Bruyne “won the game for us” with his quality.
After being out injured for a large chunk of this season KDB is still finding his rhythm and we haven’t really seen the best of him in the Premier League. He had only scored once in the league before Saturday’s win at Palace but doubled that tally with two fine strikes in each half to remind of his brilliance and grab control of the game for City when they looked shaky. With Real Madrid to come in the Champions League quarterfinals, Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal and key games in the title race, having Kevin de Bruyne in this kind of mood is exactly what City want. He’s fired up, hungry and ready to show everyone why they shouldn’t write him off and accuse him of standing in Foden’s way. De Bruyne will be still be rested at times during the run-in but Saturday proved he is still City’s talisman and can deliver big moments when they need him to. Did anyone ever really doubt that? Kevin didn’t. And he wanted to remind you.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see KDB had himself a day, while Rico Lewis was also sensational in midfield and Jack Grealish kicked City on in the second half. Palace had big chances and Mateta caused problems, with Adam Wharton excellent in midfield as he won the ball back on multiple occasions.
What’s next?
Manchester City head to Real Madrid on Tuesday, April 9 for their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, then host Luton in the Premier League on Saturday, April 13. Palace are next in action at Liverpool on Sunday, April 14.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 7:30am ET Saturday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City final score: 2-4
Mateta 3’, Edouard 86'; De Bruyne 13’, 70', Lewis 47', Haaland 66'
Edouard does score a consolation - Crystal Palace 2-4 Manchester City (86th minute)
A cross from the left is flicked home by Odsonne Edouard and Palace have been rewarded for not dropping their heads. Surely it’s just a consolation goal though. Moments later Schlupp almost heads home at the back post. Palace having a real go here as we enter stoppage time.
Palace should get one back
City cause their only problems trying to play out from the back and the balls finds substitute Edouard but Dias deflects his shot and Stones hacks the ball away as it looked like it was sneaking in. City with a lapse in concentration.
Haaland smashes home and this is getting out of hand - Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City (70th minute)
Grealish causes chaos again and then finds Rodri who tees up De Bruyne to smash home. One more goal and City go top of the Premier League table.
Game. Set. Match. Erling Haaland taps home - Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester City (66th minute)
City know if they score two more goals they will go top of the Premier League table, at least for a few hours. Grealish does really well to set up De Bruyne and he pulls the ball back for Erling Haaland to tap home. Haaland now has 82 games in 89 games for Man City. Haaland has now scored 30 goals in all competitions this season. His poor form continues...
Andersen blocks Alvarez’s goalbound effort
Haaland goes around the goalkeeper after KDB was involved and sets up Alvarez but his shot hit Andersen, who was already on the floor, and goes out for a corner. Andersen knew nothing about it but if he wasn’t there it would be 3-1 to City.
Lewis strikes right at the start of the second half - Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City (47th minute)
Well, you can’t say City don’t deserve to be ahead. Grealish clips in a cross which takes a deflection and finds Rico Lewis who controls the ball and smashes home.
Ayew hits the bar! And Palace want a penalty
Rodri is caught and Ayew smashes the crossbar with a powerful shot. So close to a second for Palace. Moments later they want a penalty as Gvardiol took a risk there. Nothing given.
City cranking through the gears
This is one way traffic now. City are creating lots of chances and Henderson has made a couple of big stops, especially from Erling Haaland. Palace need to regain some composure.
Chance galore so far
A really open game with chances at both ends as Munoz whips in a great ball that Eze can’t get on the end of. Beautifully poised. City are still creating plenty of chances.
What a goal from De Bruyne! - Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester City (13th minute)
Oh wow. Sensational finish. That is textbook KDB. City weren’t behind for long.
Palace lead! Mateta again and what a shock we have on here - Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City (3rd minute)
First attack of the game and Palace are ahead as John Stones is caught out and then Mateta beats him in-behind before finishing across goal. Mateta has scored in four of Glasner’s six games in charge and Palace are in dreamland.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson; Ward, Andersen, Lerma; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Eze, Ayew; Mateta
Manchester City lineup
Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri; Bobb, De Bruyne, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland
Crystal Palace focus, team news
OUT: Marc Guehi (knee), Matheus Franca (adductor), Sam Johnstone (elbow), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh), Odsonne Edouard (knee), Chris Richards (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Michael Olise (hamstring)
Manchester City focus, team news
OUT: Kyle Walker (thigh), Nathan Ake (unknown) | QUESTIONABLE: Ederson (thigh).
