Rayan Cherki delivered a dazzling display that evoked memories of Lionel Messi, guiding Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City to a flawless Premier League performance with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The French winger, wearing the iconic No.
10 shirt synonymous with the Argentine legend, slipped past the Palace back line and calmly slotted the ball beyond a stranded Dean Henderson, extending City’s lead to two. The opening goal of the match had already come from Erling Haaland, who marked his first strike of the season with a powerful header. The game began brightly for the visitors. Haaland rose above Chris Richards to meet a cross from the left and headed the ball into the net, giving City an early advantage.
After that, the crowd’s applause for Cherki’s solo effort began to fade, but the Frenchman was not finished. Just five minutes after his initial strike, he responded to Palace’s attempt to regain momentum with a daring shot that deflected off a defender and looped past Henderson, restoring City’s dominance.
While Palace threatened intermittently – their best chance falling to Tyrick Mitchell, who mistimed a close‑range header – City continued to press. Haaland added a second, more clinical finish later in the match, sealing the result. The visitors now sit atop the league with two wins from two fixtures, a start reminiscent of the high‑scoring displays delivered by Maresca’s predecessor.
Individual brilliance was not limited to Cherki. Yeremy Pino showcased his own skill, striking a free‑kick from 25 yards that curled over the wall, struck the post, rebounded off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and ultimately counted as an own goal for the Italian shot‑stopper. The sequence highlighted the chaotic nature of the encounter, with multiple moments of drama captured in the broadcast.
The match narrative was punctuated by several noteworthy incidents. At the 7‑minute mark, Cherki’s short corner caused confusion inside the Palace penalty area, creating a scramble that nearly produced a City goal.
At 17 minutes, Haaland leapt above Richards to head a looping cross from the left wing of Samuel Semenyo into the net. Later, Phil Foden experienced two glaring misses: first he lifted a header over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat, and later he mis‑directed another header despite being unmarked, allowing Palace to clear the danger.
Palace also had moments of promise. At 35 minutes, James Wharton delivered a precise cross from the right flank to Mitchell, whose downward header drifted wide, underscoring the visitors’ defensive resilience. Yet the decisive moments continued to favour City.
In the 54th minute, Cherki collected a pass from Foden inside the box, weaved through a cluster of Palace defenders and finished delicately with the outside of his boot, sending the ball beyond Henderson’s reach. Two minutes later, Pino’s free‑kick again tested Donnarumma, this time curling over the wall, striking the woodwork, rebounding off the City goalkeeper and crossing the line for an own goal.
At 59 minutes, Cherki completed his brace: after receiving the ball in the middle of Palace’s half, he shouldered a defender, created space and unleashed a long‑range effort that deflected off Chris Richards before finding the net. The final goal arrived in the 84th minute when Marc Guehi intercepted a pass from Richards, fed the ball to Foden, who drove forward and set up Haaland for his second strike of the evening. The Norwegian’s finish capped a comprehensive performance by the visitors.
Post‑match, Cherki offered a modest assessment to Sky Sports, admitting his first‑half play was “so‑so” and that he struggled to find space. He expressed a desire to earn more minutes, provide assists for Haaland and improve his contribution. When asked about his opening goal, Cherki said it was instinctive and that he was delighted with the win.
Haaland, ever candid, replied, “Just say what you actually mean. You scored two top goals!” to which Cherki responded, “That is nothing. I want to give a goal for him.” Their exchange highlighted the mutual respect between the two attackers.
Manager Enzo Maresca praised his side’s control of the game, noting the difficulty of the Selhurst Park surface but emphasizing the team’s intensity and desire. He singled out Cherki’s influence, recalling his two‑assist performance against Bournemouth and his two‑goal haul against Palace, adding that the youngster showed excellent off‑the‑ball movement and work rate. Maresca also commented on Phil Foden’s adaptation, acknowledging the Englishman’s attempts to play wider and his improving confidence inside the box during the final minutes. Palace boss Pierre Sage, speaking to Sky Sports, expressed frustration with the second half, blaming the substitutions for a dip in energy.
He admitted anger at his own decisions and at the bench, explaining that fatigue had set in and that tactical adjustments failed to close down the space City exploited. Sage defended his players, emphasizing unity and the need to play as a collective unit rather than as isolated individuals.
Regarding young midfielder Daniel Munoz, Sage reiterated his belief in the player’s potential, stating that his inclusion in the match was a sign of confidence and that the club’s future plans remain unchanged. Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp summed up Cherki’s impact, describing the Frenchman’s first goal as a masterpiece that added an “X factor” to the match, highlighting his creativity and technical brilliance. Overall, the encounter showcased Manchester City’s attacking depth, with Cherki emerging as a new creative spark, Haaland confirming his status as a lethal finisher, and Maresca’s side demonstrating why they are early favorites in the Premier League race.
The result also underscored Crystal Palace’s challenges under new manager Pierre Sage, who will look to regroup and find a first win as the season progresses.