Manchester City 3 Crystal Palace: City player ratings as City keep the title race running

First half.

Manchester City knew the equation when the match kicked off. Pep Guardiola’s side had to pick up all three points to remain in the title race. It was as simple as that, nothing else would do for City.

Crystal Palace made their intentions clear in the second minute. A simple ball over Manchester City’s high defensive line played in Brennan Johnson. Johnson cut a ball back from the right-hand byline to Jean-Philippe Mateta for a tap-in at the back post. Mateta got a shot on goal that Gianluigi Donnarumma somehow kept out with a stunning save low down to his right. However, the offside flag went up against Brennan Johnson, but an early warning shot was fired City’s way from Oliver Glasner’s side.

Despite Manchester City dominating possession and dropping Crystal Palace deep into their own area, it was the visitors who created the next real opening on the break in the 11th minute. Palace broke out from the back with pace, which led to a chance being created for Yéremy Pino. The Spanish playmaker got on the end of a ball played in from the left from Brennan Johnson, and his first-time shot hit Josko Gvardiol and deflected behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, Chris Richards headed over the bar from the near post as Palace continued to show their threat when they had the opportunity to attack.

Rayan Ait-Nouri fires wide as City create their first real opportunity of the match.

Manchester City created their first real opening in the 20th minute. Phil Foden played the ball out wide to the left to Rayan Ait-Nouri. The Algerian international, who was playing on the left wing, played the ball inside to Marc Guehi, and Ait-Nouri received the ball back in a dangerous area of the Palace penalty area. Ait-Nouri got a right-footed shot on goal that hit the side netting with Palace keeper Dean Henderson scrambling.

As the game passed the half-hour mark, there was no real moments of anxiety created by Manchester City in the Palace defence. The visitors were happy sitting deep and keeping their shape. City’s possession play was in front of the Palace backline and Pep Guardiola’s side were having a difficult time breaking down Oliver Glasner’s side. However, that would change in the 31st minute.

Some Phil Foden magic sets up Antoine Semenyo to give Manchester City the lead!!!!

Manchester City would take the lead in the 31st minute. Another spell of City possession pinned Palace in their own half. A ball was played to Phil Foden on the edge of the Palace area, and Foden produced a stunning first-time backheel to play in Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo took a touch and beat Dean Henderson with a composed right-footed finish to give Pep Guardiola’s side a 1-0 lead.

Crystal Palace would respond immediately after City took the lead. Jean Philippe-Mateta won a duel and played the ball out to the left to Tyrick Mitchell. Mitchell unleashed a powerful low drive on goal that Donnarumma turned behind with a strong save to preserve City’s lead.

City double their lead as they put their foot down.

Manchester City took a 2-0 lead in the 40th minute. Josko Gvardiol played a clever ball from the left to Phil Foden, whose touch fell to Omar Marmoush on the right-hand side of the Palace area. Marmoush took a clever first touch and unleashed a powerful low right-footed shot on target that beat Dean Henderson to double Manchester City’s lead. Pep Guardiola’s side had their reward for dominating the match as they took a commanding 2-0 lead.

Crystal Palace Dean Henderson would make a stunning save to keep out a Josko Gvardiol header in the 42nd minute. City worked a short corner that saw Phil Foden play in a quality ball into the area. Josko Gvardiol got a strong header on target that Dean Henderson kept out with a brilliant save diving to his right. City created another chance on the follow-up as Foden picked out Bernardo Silva on the left following a lovely first touch and ball. But the Manchester City captain curled his effort high and wide of the far post.

At halftime, Manchester City took a 2-0 lead into the interval. City were full value for their lead, although Crystal Palace did have their moments on the counter. Phil Foden set up both of City’s goals with two brilliant pieces of play and creativity. That was great to see as City had set themselves up with an impressive first half display.

Second half.

The second half began in a similar vein to the first. City were dominating possession, although Crystal Palace did seem intent on pressing Pep Guardiola’s side higher up the pitch. The only real incident of note to begin the second half was a yellow card issued to Tyrick Mitchell. The Crystal Palace left-back lunged in on Savinho after the Brazilian international worked himself into some space with sublime footwork.

As the match ticked over the hour mark, the intensity had seemingly come out of the match. Omar Marmoush fired a shot wide in the 55th minute after a flowing City move, but that was the only real incident of note as the match fell flat in the opening 15 minutes after halftime.

Crystal Palace got a shot on target in the 62nd minute. Two misplaced passes from Bernardo Silva produced an opportunity for Ismaila Sarr. However, after Bernardo’s sloppy pass played in Sarr, his shot from just inside the City area lacked any power to trouble Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved the shot with ease.

The game was drifting towards its conclusion with 20 minutes left to play.

As the game ticked over the 70-minute mark, it was seemingly drifting toward its conclusion. Manchester City were comfortable in possession, and Crystal Palace were occasionally offering a threat on the break through the clever passing of Adam Wharton, but they were rarely troubling the Manchester City defence.

Just as it seemed Manchester City were cruising to three points, a misplaced Gianluigi Donnarumma pass almost gifted Crystal Palace a way back into the match. Donnarumma’s pass to Marc Guehi was intercepted by Palace, and the ball was played to Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada. Kamada looked to be in on goal, but his touch got away from him. The energetic midfielder was booked for diving after a coming together with Mateo Kovacic, and City had dodged a bullet.

Savinho makes it 3-0 after some Rayan Cherki magic.

Following that scare at the back, Manchester City would make it 3-0 and wrap up all three points in the 83rd minute. Rayan Cherki made a driving run at the Palace defence from the halfway line. The French international got himself to the edge of the Palace penalty area and played a sublime through ball to Savinho on his left. Savinho showed excellent composure to beat the oncoming Dean Henderson with a delicate chip to secure all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Savinho’s goal would be the final significant moment of the match and as the final whistle blew, Manchester City had done their job and picked up the three points they needed to keep the pressure on Arsenal in the title race. Pep Guardiola would be pleased that his squad players all made strong contributions and the performances of Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol were superb. It is onto the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday for City, and they did all they can to out pressure on Arsenal at the top of the table with a comfortable 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

City player ratings.

Gianluigi Donnarumma-7/10: Donnarumma made the saves he needed to make and commanded his area well at set pieces. His only blemish was one misplaced passes which almost allowed Palace a way back into the game.

**Matheus Nunes-7/10:**Did his job well as he always does at right-back. 

Abdukodir Khusanov-7.5/10: A strong defensive display from Khusanov. 

**Marc Guehi-8/10:**Guehi was superb against his former club as he was a rock at the back for City.

**Josko Gvardiol-7.5/10:**A really solid display from Gvardiol in his first game back from injury. It was his pass that set up City’s second goal of the match and everything he did oozed class before he was taken off after 58 minutes. 

Rayan Ait-Nouri- 7/10:-Started on the left wing and got himself into a host of dangerous attacking positions. Shifted to left-back when Josko Gvardiol came off and he was solid all night.

**Bernardo Silva-7.5/10:**Another busy display from the Manchester City captain. He put in a superb shift and only loses half a mark for two misplaced passes that created a chance for Ismaila Sarr. 

**Phil Foden-9/10:**A fantastic performance from Foden. He grabbed two assists and his impressive recent form continued tonight. That was exactly what Manchester City wanted to see from Foden tonight. 

Antoine Semenyo-8/10: Semenyo opened the scoring and put in a lively display. 

**Savinho-8/10:**I really enjoyed Savinho’s performance. There was a real intent to his play, he had some nice touches and grabbed a goal which should do his confidence the world of good.

**Omar Marmoush-7.5/10:**The Egyptian international took his goal extremely well and his movement was very good throughout the match.

Substitutes.

Jeremy Doku-6/10: The Belgian winger didn’t really influence the game after coming on.

**Nathan Ake-6/10:**Ake was solid at the back when he came on.

**Mateo Kovacic-6/10:**Kovacic did what he had to do in midfield.

Rayan Cherki-7/10: Set up Savinho’s goal with a superb run and assist.

John Stones-N/A: Not on long enough to mark but got the heroes welcome he deserved after coming on.