Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City - 5 Talking Points as Manchester City return to winning ways | Premier League 2019/20

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League

Manchester City travelled to Selhurst Park to take on a resurgent Crystal Palace and the champions got their title challenge back on track with a convincing 2-0 victory.

Pep Guardiola's side were stunned by Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad in their previous league encounter, as Adama Traore's second-half brace ensured that the Cityzens fell eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

Crystal Palace have been the surprise package of the season and going into the game, Roy Hodgson's side were only two points behind last season's treble winners.

With Liverpool set to lock horns with arch-rivals Manchester United tomorrow, Manchester City closed the gap to five points for the time being.

City dominated proceedings right from the get-go and took the lead courtesy of a brilliant header from Gabriel Jesus. Bernardo Silva's left-footed curler was met by the Brazilian and the ball cannoned off the upright into the back of the net.

Less than 50 seconds later, the Cityzens were at it again as David Silva applied the finishing touch to devastating counter-attack.

As the reigning Premier League champions got back to winning ways, let's look at some of the talking points from the game.


#1 Gabriel Jesus impresses in Aguero's absence

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League

Gabriel Jesus was chosen to lead the line ahead of Sergio Aguero and the Brazilian striker did his reputation no harm with his performance.

Manchester City dominated proceedings right from the get-go and Jesus was in the centre of things and scored a deserved goal in the first half.

Jesus opened the scoring with a brilliant header from a Bernardo Silva cross to get the champions up and running on the night, a lead that was doubled shortly afterwards.

In Aguero's absence, Jesus got the job done for his manager and the Brazilian international will look keep racking up the goals in the coming weeks.

#2 Manchester City's unfamiliar centre-half pairing get the job done

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League

With Nicolas Otamendi unavailable and John Stones only fit enough for the bench, Guardiola had no choice but to deploy Fernandinho and Rodri in the heart of the defence.

Despite their unfamiliarity with the position, the pair of defensive midfielders overcame their initial struggles and got the job done for their team.

Fernandinho was guilty of being sloppy at times in the first-half but the veteran Brazilian grew in stature as the game progressed. Meanwhile, Rodri was composed throughout the game and slotted in seamlessly in place of Otamendi, before being moved to his preferred defensive midfield position late in the second half.

Aymeric Laporte has been ruled out for the foreseeable future with an Achilles injury and with Otamendi and Stones struggling with injuries and poor form, it wouldn't be surprising if Guardiola resorts to a similar set up at some point this season.

#3 Raheem Sterling's profligacy in front of goal

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League

Raheem Sterling has kicked on from where he left on last season and the England international has been in blistering form for club and country.

After narrowly missing out on the PFA Player of the Year award to Virgil van Dijk last season, the former Liverpool winger has continued to play a starring role for his side and was in the thick of the action once again.

Despite having a handful of chances to get his name on the scoresheet, Sterling failed to take his chances on the night.

The Englishman was teed up brilliantly by Joao Cancelo in the second half but Sterling somehow missed the target from inside the penalty area, much to his disarray.

Although he registered a brilliant assist in the first half, Sterling's finishing was uncharacteristically sloppy on the night and the Englishman will look to return to his best as Manchester City prepare to take on Atalanta in the Champions League.

#4 Crystal Palace looked toothless upfront

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League

With Rodri and Fernandinho stationed as makeshift central defenders, Manchester City's defence looked vulnerable on paper but the Palace attackers failed to make an impression on the game.

Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha started either side of Jordan Ayew and the triumvirate failed to create clear cut chances in the first half and were largely ineffective.

The Eagles' talisman Zaha was not at his best as Manchester City managed to contain him for the entirety of the game barring one moment late in the second half, when he forced an outstanding save from Ederson.

Ayew was left isolated and Manchester City's full-backs ensured that the Palace winger had to be aware defensively, leading to their inefficiency upfront.

Palace are still in the top half of the Premier League table and will hope for their frontmen to return to their best, as they aim to solidify their position in the Premier League.

#5 Ederson looked unbeatable between the sticks for Manchester City

Manchester City v Dinamo Zagreb: Group C - UEFA Champions League
Manchester City v Dinamo Zagreb: Group C - UEFA Champions League

With an unfamiliar back-four in front of him, Ederson had to be at his best to ensure his team got the job done and the Brazilian shot-stopper was one of the standout players in the game, particularly in the second half.

Although he didn't have much to do, he made two outstanding saves when called upon and his form will come as a massive boost to Pep Guardiola's side.

Christian Benteke's header was brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar and the Brazilian topped off his wonder save with another outstanding effort late in the game, this time from Wilfred Zaha.

Manchester City dominated proceedings in the first-half and Ederson had virtually nothing to do until the closing stages of the game, but the Brazilian came through for his side and delivered with a couple of decisive saves.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari