Rayan Cherki gave the impression of a young Lionel Messi on the pitch, conjuring moments of sheer brilliance as Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City continued their flawless start to the Premier League campaign with a 4-1 triumph over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The French winger, wearing the iconic No.
10 jersey reminiscent of the Argentine legend, slipped through the Palace defensive line with a blend of agility and composure before gently nudging the ball past a rooted Dean Henderson, extending City’s advantage to 2-0. The opening strike had already come from Erling Haaland, who netted his first goal of the season with a powerful header that saw him rise above Chris Richards in the early exchanges.
The match began with a burst of excitement as Pierre Sage made his debut in charge of Palace. Haaland’s aerial dominance was evident when he rose above the defender to head home the opening goal, setting the tone for what would become a dominant performance from the visitors. As the applause for Cherki’s equaliser began to subside, Yeremy Pino showcased his own individual flair, beating a wall from 25 yards out and curling a free‑kick that struck the woodwork. The rebound fell to Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose touch inadvertently turned the effort into an own‑goal, further widening the gap.
Only five minutes after his spectacular solo effort, Cherki responded to Palace’s brief surge of momentum with a daring strike that deflected off Henderson and found the net, reaffirming his impact on the game. Palace continued to press, creating several chances, the most notable being a close‑range header from Tyrick Mitchell that lacked precision. Haaland capped the evening with a second, gritty finish past Henderson late in the match, sealing a comprehensive victory for City. For Palace, the result meant they remain in search of their first win under Sage, while Maresca’s side moved to 2‑0 in the league, delivering a scoreline more reminiscent of the standards set by the previous manager.
The win highlighted City’s ability to blend individual brilliance with collective efficiency. Key moments of the match were captured in a series of highlights: - 7 minutes: Cherki’s short corner created chaos inside the Palace box, almost resulting in an early lead for City. - 17 minutes: Haaland rose above Richards to head a looping cross from Semenyo into the net, giving City the lead. - 21 minutes: Phil Foden missed a clear‑cut chance, his head over the ball as the goalkeeper stood alone.
- 28 minutes: Foden suffered another miss, this time a mis‑directed header that allowed Palace to clear the danger. - 35 minutes: Palace’s Wharton delivered a pinpoint cross to Mitchell, whose header drifted wide of the target. - 54 minutes: Cherki collected a pass from Foden inside the box, dribbled past a cluster of defenders, and finished delicately with the outside of his boot.
- 56 minutes: Pino’s free‑kick curled over the wall, struck the post, rebounded off Donnarumma and crossed the line for an own‑goal. - 59 minutes: Cherki scored his second of the night after a long‑range effort deflected off Richards and flew into the net. - 84 minutes: Haaland doubled his tally after Marc Guehi intercepted a pass and fed Foden, who set up the Norwegian striker. After the match, Cherki spoke candidly to Sky Sports, describing his performance as “so‑so” and acknowledging a sluggish first half.
He admitted, “When I saw Enzo wanted to change me, I didn’t like it, but I needed to prove I could contribute – score and assist for Erling. Today I didn’t provide many chances for him, but next time I will.” On his own goal, he added, “When Erling didn’t get the ball, it was instinct. I’m thrilled with the win and look forward to next week.” Haland, ever the supportive teammate, replied, “Just say what you actually mean. You scored two top goals!” to which Cherki modestly responded, “That is nothing.
I want to give a goal for him.” Manager Enzo Maresca praised his side’s control of the match, noting the challenging nature of the Selhurst Park surface but emphasizing the team’s intensity and desire. He highlighted Cherki’s contribution, stating, “He’s helping us now and will be crucial in the future. He showed quality – two assists against Bournemouth, two goals today. Off the ball, he was excellent, tracking Wharton’s movements and working hard.” Maresca also addressed Phil Foden’s adaptation, saying the young Englishman is being tried in wider positions despite not being a natural winger, but his attitude remains positive and his involvement in the final minutes was encouraging.
Palace manager Pierre Sage expressed frustration after the game, explaining that the team held its own for the first 60‑65 minutes but lost momentum following substitutions. He admitted to being angry both with himself and the bench, noting fatigue and a tactical error in leaving space for City’s attackers. Sage defended his decision to change players, citing pre‑season fatigue, but acknowledged that energy levels dropped and the team failed to close down City’s advances effectively.
Regarding the future of young prospect Daniel Muñoz, Sage reiterated his confidence, saying, “If he was with us today, it’s because he belongs here. The answer remains the same after the match.” Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp summed up Cherki’s impact, describing his first goal as a masterpiece that added an “X‑factor” to the game, praising the Frenchman’s creativity and technical skill.
Overall, the match showcased Manchester City’s blend of individual flair and tactical discipline, setting a strong tone for the season, while Crystal Palace will look to regroup and find consistency under their new manager as the campaign progresses.