Manchester City 4 (Erling Haaland 17′, Rayan Cherki 54′, 59′)
Crystal Palace 1 (Gianluigi Donnarumma OG’ 56′)
Manchester City picked up an impressive 4-1 win over Crystal Palace tonight at Selhurst Park. A brace each for Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland sealed City’s win. An unfortunate Gianluigi Donnarumma own goal after Yeremy Pino fired a 30-yard free kick into the crossbar to make it 2-1 in the 56th minute breifly gave Pierre Sage’s side hope of a comeback from 2-0 down. However, Rayan Cherki ended that hope three minutes later and Enzo Maresca’s side made it two wins from two to start their 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
Here are my City player ratings from Manchester City’s impressive victory.
City player ratings.
Gianluigi Donnarumma-7/10: I liked Donnarumma’s overall game. He was unfortunate for the own goal but his play with his feet was fine and he looked to have good command of his area.
Abdukodir Khusanov-7/10: A much better performance from Khusanov. His recovery pace was crucial at times although he lost possession loosely on occasions.
Ruben Dias-7/10: A proper defenders display from the Manchester City captain.
Marc Guehi-8/10: Guehi was by far and away Manchester City’s best defender tonight. He made some superb interventions in his return to Selhurst Park.
Josko Gvardiol-7/10: Gvardiol was very good in possession and at times caught out of possession at the back. That was more a product of Manchester City’s system rather than anything Gvardiol did wrong as he put in a workmanlike display.
Elliot Anderson-9/10: Anderson was absolutely brilliant throughout the night. He was great in possession and broke up a host of Palace attacks to win back possession for his team. That performance shows exactly why City were so eager to sign him this summer.
Nico O’Reilly-7.5/10: Some touches throughout the game were brilliant from O’Reilly. He linked up City’s attacking play well before he drifted out of the game in the second half.
Rayan Cherki-10/10: A dazzling display from Cherki. He was okay in the first half then set the game alight in the second. He bagged a brace and has started the season in sparkling form.
Phil Foden-8.5/10: Foden picked up two second half assists and he was lively throughout the match. Much better from Foden and his performance tonight was a major positive for him and Manchester City.
Antoine Semenyo-8/10: He set up City’s first goal of the night and was a constant threat on the left wing.
Erling Haaland-8/10: Haaland bagged a brace in a strong performance from him. I am enjoying him dropping deep to receive possession which is a weapon that Enzo Maresca looks keek to tap into.
🎯🎯 Erling Haaland
🎯🎯 Rayan Cherki
🅰️🅰️ Phil FodenA successful night ✨ pic.twitter.com/BzWoFlzZCv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 28, 2026
Substitutes.
Mateo Kovacic-6.5/10: He was once again tidy in possession after coming on.
Ayyoub Bouaddi-6.5/10: The Moroccan international had one magic of brilliance with a sublime turn out of trouble in midfield. What is striking is his size which was impossible to ignore.
Ryan McAidoo-N/A: A lively cameo and unfortunately he flashed a good chance wide of the target in his Premier League debut.
Vitor Reis-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.
Kaden Braithwaite-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.
Bouaddi even in the brief time he was on was closer to an 8.
McAidoo created the chance that he narrowly failed to score from.
Khusanov tied up on a number of occasions and he was a key outlet in working the ball forwards.
Whatever annoyed Cherki seemed to galvanise him and he then took it out on Palace (take a look at his reaction after the first goal – not sure if he was looking towards the bench).
Going through the post match interviews at the moment, Cherki’s look towards the bench was aimed at the bench/Maresca as they were thinking of taking him off at halftime and Cherki said to give him five more minutes and he’d produce something and he did. I believe it was that and why he looked towards the bench.
Oldest trick in the book from Maresca. Threaten to take a player off to get a response and my word he got it alright.
Adam thanks for that as it makes absolute sense. It was also the way he didn’t celebrate the goal as well at first even though it was excellent.
He had a very iffy first half but in the second half he was the player we know he can be.