Player Ratings: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Dean Henderson – 7
No chance with either of Manchester City’s goals, but this was a reminder of his pedigree. Denied Anderson sharply early on, then stood up well to efforts from Semenyo and Cherki. Kept Palace alive for longer than they probably deserved.

Jaydee Convot – 6
Rarely flustered and largely tidy, yet ultimately exposed by Cherki’s class. Stuck to his task but couldn’t turn the tide down his flank.

Chris Richards – 6
Threw himself into the duel with Haaland and didn’t hide, but the City striker still came out on top. Should have buried a first-half header that would have changed the mood entirely.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6
Brought calm and nous to the back line. Read danger well and rarely panicked, exactly the sort of steadying presence Palace will lean on this season.

Anan Khalaili – 6
Endless running, constant pressing, and a willingness to take responsibility. The problem came in the final third, where the touch or pass too often deserted him.

Daichi Kamada – 5
Covered ground and showed for the ball, yet never truly grabbed hold of the midfield. City’s rhythm pushed him back and his influence faded as the game wore on.

Adam Wharton – 7
The standout in Palace colours. Composed on the ball, picked passes others couldn’t see, and stitched together most of their better moves. As City cranked up the tempo, even he was eventually swamped, but the quality was unmistakable.

Tyrick Mitchell – 6
Aggressive, quick across the turf and keen to get tight to his man. Then came the moment: a first-half header with the goal gaping, steered wide. Palace never got a better chance to level.

Eddie Nketiah – 5
Started brightly, stinging Donnarumma’s palms and stretching City’s back line. After the break he drifted, then squandered a huge opening early in the second half that summed up his night.

Yeremy Pino – 6
Frustrating one minute, electric the next. His delivery can be erratic, but his free-kick that led to Donnarumma’s own goal was a reminder of the threat he carries from dead balls.

Jorgen Strand Larsen – 5
Worked, wrestled and chased, yet found himself second best in the physical contest with Dias. Spurned a decent first-half chance and never really recovered his edge.

Subs

• Guessand (on 63, Strand Larsen)
• Gozo (on 68, Pino)
• McNeil (on 68, Nketiah)
• Disasi (on 74, Tomiyasu)
• Mingueza (on 74, Khalaili)

Fresh legs, fresh energy, but none of the changes could tilt the contest back Palace’s way against a City side that finished in complete control.