Rayan Cherki delivered a performance that evoked memories of Lionel Messi, weaving moments of pure brilliance as Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City maintained a flawless start to the Premier League campaign with a 4-1 triumph at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park. The French winger, wearing the iconic number 10 jersey synonymous with the Argentine legend, cut through the Palace back line with a blend of speed and close‑control before slipping the ball past a rooted Dean Henderson to double City’s advantage.

The opening goal had already come from Erling Haaland, who, after a quiet first half, finally found the net with his inaugural goal of the season. Haaland’s early strike was a textbook example of his aerial prowess: he rose above Chris Richards, met a cross from the left wing and powered a looping header into the far corner, setting the tone for a match that would soon become a showcase of individual flair.

As the crowd’s applause for Cherki’s opener began to wane, fellow Frenchman Yeremy Pino added his own touch of class. From about 25 yards out, he curled a free‑kick over the wall, only for the ball to rebound off Gianluigi Donnarumma and be recorded as an own goal against the Italian goalkeeper.

Five minutes after his solo masterpiece, Cherki sensed a shift in Palace’s momentum and responded with an audacious strike that deflected off a defender before finding the net beyond Henderson. This swift retaliation quelled any hopes of a Palace comeback and underscored Cherki’s influence on the game’s tempo. Palace did create a few chances, the most notable coming from Tyrick Mitchell, whose close‑range header drifted wide, failing to capitalize on a rare moment of danger. Haaland sealed the victory with a second, rasping finish late on, ensuring the final scoreline reflected City’s dominance.

The defeat leaves Palace still searching for their first win under new manager Pierre Sage. Maresca’s side now sit atop the league, having secured two wins from two matches, delivering a scoreline that harks back to the standards set by his predecessor. The victory also highlighted the depth of City’s attacking options, with Cherki, Pino, and Haaland all contributing to a night of spectacular football. Key moments from the match include: - 7′ – Chaos in the Palace box after Cherki’s short corner caused a scramble that almost produced an early lead for City.

- 17′ – Haaland’s towering header over Richards, converting a cross from Samuel Semenyo’s left wing. - 21′ – Phil Foden’s miss, his head dropping the ball into the net with only the goalkeeper to beat.

- 28′ – Another Foden miss, this time a mis‑directed header that allowed Palace to clear the danger. - 35′ – A squandered Palace chance as James Wharton’s cross found Mitchell, whose header drifted wide. - 54′ – Cherki’s first goal: receiving a pass from Foden, he slipped past a cluster of defenders and finished delicately with the outside of his boot.

- 56′ – Pino’s stunning free‑kick, curling over the wall, striking the woodwork, rebounding off Donnarumma and crossing the line. - 59′ – Cherki’s second goal: after finding space in Palace’s half, he dropped his shoulder, created a shooting angle and unleashed a long‑range effort that deflected off Richards before rattling the net.

- 84′ – Haaland’s second goal: Marc Guehi intercepted a pass from Richards, fed Foden, who drove into the box and laid the ball off to Haaland for the final tally. After the match, Cherki spoke to Sky Sports about his performance, describing it as “so‑so” and admitting that the first half felt cramped: “In the first half we didn’t find the space.

I played so ****.” He went on to explain his desire to earn the manager’s trust and to provide more service for Haaland: “When I see Enzo wants to change me, I don’t like that, and I need to show them I want to play, I want to score, I want to give an assist to Erling. Today I didn’t give a lot of balls to him but next time I want to give him a lot of balls.” Reflecting on his own goal, Cherki added: “When Erling didn’t get the ball, it was my instinct. I’m very happy for the win today.

See you next week.” Haaland, ever the candid 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 the team’s resilience on Sky Sports, noting the challenging pitch conditions: “It is a tough ground. We knew it before the game.

You saw it in the first few minutes, but then we were in control. The intensity, the desire of the team has been very good.” He singled out Cherki for his contributions: “He’s helping us. He’ll help us in the future. We know he’s a quality player – last game against Bournemouth he had two assists, today two goals.

He was very good off the ball, he controlled Wharton and worked very hard.” Maresca also commented on Phil Foden’s adaptation, acknowledging that the English midfielder is being used in a slightly wider role: “He’s adapting a little bit wide. We know he’s not a winger, but we are trying to find solutions.

In the last 10 or 15 minutes when he was inside, you could see he was enjoying it more. His attitude was very good and that’s what we need.” Palace manager Pierre Sage expressed frustration with his side’s performance, particularly after the substitutions: “We were able to stay in the game for 60 or 65 minutes, but when I made the changes the energy dropped, and I’m a little angry about that.” He admitted the tactical mistake of not closing down the space between his defenders: “They played between two players, after that they scored. We had a lot of chances but it’s difficult to have hope against this kind of team without scoring.” Sage also defended his decision to rotate his squad, citing fatigue and a delayed pre‑season: “When you change players, it’s about fatigue, they are tired and you need more energy. I didn’t find that, so I told the players we have to play as a squad, not just as a team.” Regarding young prospect Daniel Muñoz, Sage was unequivocal: “Before the game I told you if he was with us today, it’s because he is here.

Same reply after.” Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp summed up Cherki’s impact: “Cherki painted a masterpiece with that first goal. He had an amazing effect on the game. He is a genius, the things that he can do with a football.

He gives you that X factor.” Overall, the match showcased Manchester City’s attacking depth, the emergence of Cherki as a genuine X‑factor, and the growing pains of a Palace side still adjusting to a new managerial regime. The result leaves City on a perfect start, while Palace must regroup and find a way to convert the chances they create into goals in future fixtures.