Manchester City were able to see off Crystal Palace with ease at the Etihad Stadium, thanks to an outstanding display from Leroy Sane who was making just his second league start of the season.
The German had put two goals past West Bromwich Albion in the Carabao Cup just days earlier, and Pep Guardiola allowed the 21-year-old to continue his good form by starting him again versus Roy Hodgson’s side.
The home fans sung Sane’s name throughout as the visitors’ defence struggled to cope with his direct running and blistering pace. He was ably supported by those around him, with Kevin De Bruyne putting in a dominant midfield display behind a wealth of attacking talent.
Both teams settled into the game early and City had a great chance to take the lead when the ball fell to Fernandinho following a blocked Nicolas Otamendi effort, but the Brazilian only found Wayne Hennessey when it was easier to find the back of the net.
Initially, Palace looked well organised in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Ruben Loftus-Cheek supporting Christian Benteke up front. The Englishman, who is on loan from Chelsea, thrived in the attacking role he was given, and hit the post with a rasping effort following a driving run through midfield.
Both teams had some joy down the flanks, with Yohan Cabaye and Andros Townsend combining well to create another chance for Loftus-Cheek, and Sane putting the ball on a plate for Sergio Aguero at the other end, but the Argentine dug his shot into the ground and the ball bounced over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
The home crowd came to life just before half time to try to push their team on to take the lead before half time, and the players responded. A David Silva through ball found Sane cutting in from the wing, and he used a neat bit of skill to take the ball over Scott Dann before sliding the ball past Hennessey.
The lead was doubled just after half time as Guardiola’s side took full control of the game. It was another impressive show of pace from Sane who ran onto De Bruyne’s inviting pass and crossed for Raheem Sterling who stole in ahead of the Palace defence to tap in. The English winger added another shortly after, tapping in in a similar manner, this time from Aguero’s ball into the danger area.
Sterling was substituted shortly after — his manager denying him the chance of a hat-trick — but Sane remained on the pitch and continued to pose a threat on the left flank. He was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Timothy Fosu-Mensah pulled him down in the area, but the tug of the shirt from the defender, who is on loan from City’s local rivals Manchester United, was hidden from the referee’s view.
Fosu-Mensah was given a torrid time at right back, and he was powerless to stop a Sane cross which found the head of Aguero to make it four. Even with support from Andros Townsend tracking back to help, there was no stopping the winger in this form, and he was deservedly named man of the match.
The Palace defence fell apart and were finding it impossible to track the runs of the opposition forwards, and new signing Mamadou Sakho will not have enjoyed his first league start for the Eagles. Substitute Fabian Delph rubbed salt into the wounds with an impressive, curling right-footed effort into the top corner from outside the area.
The win takes Man City to the top of the table ahead of United on goal difference, as the Manchester pair battle battle it out at the top of the Premier League table in this early stage of the season.
