Manchester City drew level with Liverpool at the Premier League summit after rallying to defeat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday, with Kevin De Bruyne producing two fantastic goals.
Palace threatened an upset when Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring in the third minute, but City levelled 10 minutes later thanks to De Bruyne’s magnificent shot.
And Manchester City, who now trail Liverpool only on goal difference ahead of the Reds’ match against Manchester United on Sunday, took control of the game after the break, with Rico Lewis putting them ahead before De Bruyne took centre stage, teeing up Erling Haaland for a tap-in before rifling in his second of the game, bringing his tally to 100 for the club.
Another goal for City would have put them, at least momentarily, at the top of the table, but Odsonne Edouard ensured Palace, who stay 14th, had the final say.
Palace’s early goal came from a rare John Stones mistake, which allowed Adam Wharton to release Mateta, who shot off the base of the left post and into the net.
Dean Henderson denied Julian Alvarez and Rodri before De Bruyne dragged City level. Receiving possession on the left side of the area, De Bruyne opened up his body to bend a superb effort into the top-right corner.
Another Henderson save kept the scores equal, smothering Haaland’s shot after more superb work from De Bruyne, but Palace came close at the other end, with Jordan Ayew hitting the crossbar.
City converted that respite 93 seconds into the second half. Joachim Andersen could only head Jack Grealish’s cross as far as Lewis, whose shot rebounded off Jefferson Lerma and into the goal.
After 66 minutes, the champs added a third when De Bruyne cut the ball back for Haaland, who tapped in his 19th league goal of 2023-24.
Four minutes later, De Bruyne secured the game with a magnificent first-time goal from Rodri’s lay-off, ensuring Edouard’s slick finish from Jeffrey Schlupp’s left-wing cross was nothing more than a consolation for Palace as City put pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal in the title race.
