Manchester City Dominates Crystal Palace 4-1 with Cherki and Haaland Braces

Rayan Cherki hit a blistering five-minute double and Erling Haaland matched him with a brace of his own as Manchester City swept past Crystal Palace 4-1 in London on Friday to keep their perfect Premier League start intact.

City’s leading man from last season wasted no time getting going again. Haaland opened his account after just 17 minutes, drifting into space and steering in a tidy header to put the champions in control early.

After the break, Cherki took over.

The Frenchman doubled City’s lead soon after halftime with a goal that silenced Selhurst Park. He slalomed through a crowded penalty area, slipping between challenges before stabbing the ball in from close range, a finish full of composure amid chaos.

Palace, though, refused to fold. The response was immediate and spectacular.

Yeremy Pino stepped up over a free kick and whipped a stunning effort against the crossbar. The ball crashed down, struck the back of the scrambling Gianluigi Donnarumma and bounced over the line, a cruel own goal for the City goalkeeper but a lifeline for the hosts.

Any hint of a comeback barely had time to breathe.

Just two minutes later, Cherki struck again. Picking the ball up just outside the box, he let fly, and a deflection wrong-footed Dean Henderson to restore City’s two-goal cushion. It was the first Premier League brace of Cherki’s career, and it arrived with the swagger of a player who looked untouchable.

From there, City managed the game with the authority of a side that expects to sit at the summit.

Haaland applied the final touch six minutes from time, driving in a left-footed finish to complete the 4-1 scoreline and his own two-goal haul. With six points from their opening two matches, City ended the night exactly where they intend to stay: on top of the league.