Rayan Cherki answered his critics with a dazzling double as Manchester City thrashed Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park on Friday, August 28, 2026. The comprehensive victory sends Enzo Maresca's side to the summit of the Premier League with a perfect six points from their opening two matches.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute, powering a header past Dean Henderson from an Antoine Semenyo cross. City's lead was briefly halved before halftime when a Yeremy Pino free-kick deflected off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for an own goal. The second half belonged to Cherki. The French playmaker, left out of the starting lineup the previous week, restored City's lead in the 54th minute after a pass from Phil Foden. He then sealed the points five minutes later with what Sky Sports Premier League called "a STUNNING goal", curling a brilliant effort into the far corner. Haaland completed the rout in the 84th minute, tapping in another Foden assist for his second of the night.
Rayan Cherki's performance was a direct response to his omission from the starting eleven against Bournemouth. Maresca admitted the player was frustrated after that match, where he came off the bench to provide two assists. Against Palace, starting in midfield, Cherki was the game's dominant figure. His two goals showed the flair that sometimes raised eyebrows under Pep Guardiola last season, but here it was channeled into decisive, match-winning contributions. Questions about his team-first ethos were silenced, at least for one night, by a display of pure attacking quality.
The win solidifies a strong start to the post-Guardiola era. Manchester City now sit first in the Premier League, having taken maximum points from their first two fixtures. They have scored six goals and conceded two, giving them a healthy +4 goal difference. The team's next challenge is a home match against Coventry City on September 5th.
While Cherki stole the headlines, several teammates delivered improved performances. Erling Haaland, sporting a new close-cropped hairstyle, got off the mark for the season with his brace. Phil Foden, though he missed two chances himself, created two goals and was a constant threat. Defender Marc Guehi, played out of position in midfield against Bournemouth, looked far more comfortable in his preferred centre-back role. Elliot Anderson also recovered from a disappointing debut with a more assured display in midfield, despite missing one good chance. Teenage signing Ayyoub Bouaddi, a £86 million arrival from Lille this week, made his debut as a late substitute.
For Crystal Palace, it was a second successive defeat under new manager Pierre Sage. They struggled to contain City's fluid attack, with striker Eddie Nketiah missing a key chance when the score was 1-0. The own goal provided a fleeting moment of hope, but they were ultimately outclassed. Sage has work to do to solidify his team after replacing Oliver Glasner. Manchester City, meanwhile, can look ahead with confidence. Their early-season form has been emphatic, blending the goals of Haaland with the creative spark of a motivated Cherki. With the squad showing depth and key players finding form, they have laid down a strong early marker in the title race.
