Manchester City Triumph Over Crystal Palace 4-1 with Haaland and Cherki Doubles

Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland hit doubles as Manchester City crushed Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park on Friday night to keep their perfect Premier League start intact.

City’s prolific No. 9 wasted no time. After 17 minutes, Haaland opened his account for the season with the kind of finish that has become routine: a sharp, precise header that left Palace exposed and the champions in control.

City tightened their grip after the break, and Cherki took center stage.

Early in the second half, the Frenchman glided through a tangle of Palace defenders, slaloming into the box before stabbing the ball in from close range. It was a goal full of balance and nerve, and it seemed to put the game to bed.

Palace refused to lie down. Almost straight from the restart, they found a lifeline in bizarre fashion. Yeremy Pino whipped a stunning free kick against the crossbar, the ball crashed down, struck the back of a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma and bounced over the line. Fortunate, yes, but it dragged the hosts back into the contest.

The hope barely lasted two minutes.

Cherki struck again from the edge of the area, his shot taking a deflection that completely wrong-footed Dean Henderson and restored City’s two-goal cushion. It was the first brace of his Premier League career, and it arrived with the swagger of a player who looked untouchable every time he picked up the ball.

City never let the tempo drop. The visitors moved the ball, squeezed the space, and waited for Palace to crack one more time.

With six minutes left, Haaland delivered the final blow. This time he went with his left foot, drilling home to complete his own brace and cap a ruthless away performance.

Two games, two wins, six points. Manchester City are already back on top of the Premier League, and the champions look in no mood to give anyone a head start.