CITY RATED

EDERSON

Confident and commanding on the rare moments he needed to be. Staring Eze out summed up his control of proceedings.

KYLE WALKER

Far too many loose touches and passes, creating problems at the back as well as losing the forward creativity of Cancelo.

Threatening Dias as the best defender at the club! A first league goal for City, then a second, and ninth clean sheet.

RUBEN DIAS

Ayew got absolutely no change all game, with Townsend similarly quiet. Example of excellence being normalised.

ALEKS ZINCHENKO

Played the Cancelo role and was happy to get forward down the flank too. Decent enough display.

Genuine alternative to Rodri in holding role, oozed calmness throughout, as well as being comfortable in a back three.

ILKAY GUNDOGAN

Worst performance for a while. It wasn’t terrible, most of the things he tried didn’t come off. A cracking goal, mind.

Poor for most of the game and his infuriating inability to shoot or score continued. But the assist was filthy!

Perhaps he was put off by Palace assistant Lewington bellowing ‘left foot’ every time he got the ball!

Worked hard to find space and cause problems, his crossfield ball found De Bruyne for the opener. Excellent free-kick.

Questionable whether a No.9 should spend as much time taking the ball away from the final third as Jesus did.

SUBSTITUTES

PHIL FODEN: (Bernardo, 60) A lot of running and some ambitious De Bruyne balls. 7

JOAO CANCELO: (De Bruyne, 71) Filled in in central midfield to show his versatility but had little to do with the game won. 6 FERRAN TORRES: (Gundogan, 71) His first appearance since testing positive for Covid. 6 NOT USED: Steffen, Mendy, Rodri, Mahrez, Doyle, Delap

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