Two goals in two first-half minutes at Selhurst Park ensured Manchester City avoided a third Premier League loss in five games. The champions needed to respond after defeats at Norwich and at home to Wolves saw them slide eight points behind pacesetters Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s side did just that, with Gabriel Jesus and David Silva netting in quick succession just before the break against a relatively subdued Crystal Palace side.
City, overtaken by Leicester and Chelsea earlier on Saturday afternoon, reclaimed second spot with their win in south London and will be hoping neighbours Manchester United can deliver another boost on Sunday by halting Liverpool’s bid for a record-equalling 18th successive league win when they meet at Old Trafford.
Guardiola started both Fernandinho and Joao Cancelo alongside Benjamin Mendy in a three-man makeshift defence, with John Stones only good enough for an appearance off the bench as he recovers from injury.
City probed from an early stage. Kevin De Bruyne, back from injury having missed the defeat to Wolves, fired a low ball across the six-yard box that just needed a finish applied, while Wayne Hennessy needed a fingertip save to deny Bernardo Silva.
Palace’s surprisingly lacked the intensity expected from them, with the visitors allowed to control the tempo and enjoy plenty possession in front of their hosts as Roy Hodgson’s side failed to really unsettle the City slickers.
Hodgson would have felt his side were in sight of half-time parity but, with six minutes to play, Jesus diverted a cross from Bernardo Silva in off the base of a post and the goal stood despite suggestions the ball may have come off the Brazilian’s shoulder.
With Palace rocked by the goal, skipper David Silva rapidly doubled the dosage. Raheem Sterling lifted the ball over the home defence and the Spaniard watched it drop over his shoulder before volleying through Hennessy’s legs.
Sterling twice shot wide after the break as City looked to make the win safe, while De Bruyne went down under a risky challenge from Wilfried Zaha in the box but, after a lengthy VAR review, Anthony Taylor’s decision not to award a penalty was upheld.
Christian Benteke was summoned from the bench with 15 minutes to play and the Belgian almost scored within seconds, with his header from Patrick van Aanholt’s corner drawing a flying one-handed save from Ederson.
City swept up the other end and Jesus really should have set up De Bruyne for a third goal but elected to go himself and was thwarted by Hennessy.
Wasteful as they were at times in the final third, it was a comfortable success for the Premier League champions in what has proved a tough fixture for them in recent times.
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