Manchester City successfully closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table following a convincing 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at home.
After the Gunners clinched a last-minute winner on Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s squad responded emphatically, signaling their firm intention to remain competitive in the title race.
Despite Palace, the FA Cup Final winners from the previous year, hitting the crossbar in the first goalless half, the game belonged to City after Erling Haaland broke the deadlock before the interval.
Phil Foden then extended the lead with a superb strike from distance. The victory was rounded off when Savinho won a late penalty, which Haaland coolly dispatched for his second of the afternoon.
Below are the player ratings and individual descriptions for the Manchester City starting eleven, presented in order from Goalkeeper to Attackers.
Man City Player Ratings
Donnarumma – 7
The shot-stopper executed several crucial interventions in the opening half, maintaining parity on the scoreboard. His long clearances from the box also successfully disrupted the opposition’s rhythm.
Nunes – 7
The defender was credited with a superb delivery and contributed actively to a back-line performance that rightfully achieved a clean sheet.
Rúben Dias – 8
Consistently outstanding, he demonstrated commitment by physically intercepting attempts at goal and maintained continuous, clear dialogue with those around him.
Joško Gvardiol – 8
He was integral to a formidable central defensive duo, effectively nullifying the threat of Jean-Philippe Mateta and his cohorts. The player appears to be peaking in performance.
Josh O’Reilly – 7
His initial minutes were characterized by tentativeness and minor errors, yet he recovered powerfully after the interval, offering several critical contributions to the match.
Nico González – 6
The player ceded possession in dangerous defensive areas multiple times through errors that almost proved costly to the team, although he was highly engaged in the overall play.
Bernardo Silva – 7
He delivered his characteristic work-rate, ensuring City’s high tempo was sustained, relentlessly patrolling the engine room to press and unsettle the visiting players.
Phil Foden – 8
The attacker’s outstanding sequence of performances persists. Following a demanding effort in the central area, he clinically exploited the open territory to score a decisive goal.
Tijjani Reijnders – 6
He participated in several promising attacking sequences, but his efforts consistently lacked the final, decisive execution throughout the contest.
Rayan Cherki – 7
The forward was slow to find his rhythm initially, but he became outstanding after the break, acting as a crucial attacking impetus that spurred City towards victory.
Erling Haaland – 9
The striker secured a brace and was implicated in the buildup to the second goal. Crucially, his overall participation in the team’s offense was noticeably higher than in recent outings.
Substitutes
Savinho – 7 (On for Reijnders, 85′)
His brief appearance was marked by a smart piece of skill to win the late penalty.
Marmoush (On for Haaland, 91′), Aït-Nouri (On for O’Reilly, 91′), and Lewis (On for Silva, 91′) did not play long enough to be evaluated.