Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Friday night at Selhurst Park. A tricky proposition for most visiting teams. The kind of ground that has sent bigger visitors home empty-handed. Manchester City arrived, looked around, and then proceeded to win 4–1 as though the occasion was the mildest inconvenience.

Erling Haaland set the tone inside 17 minutes. A clinical header — the kind he scores in his sleep — and City were in front almost before Selhurst Park had settled. The noise dropped a register. The home side tried to respond, but City were already in control.

Then Rayan Cherki happened. In the 54th minute he received the ball inside the box, produced a quick pirouette that left his marker standing, and slotted calmly past the keeper. 0–2. Three minutes later, Gigi Donnarumma — City's own keeper — bundled a Yéremy Pino set piece into his own net. Palace had a goal. 1–2. Brief hope for Selhurst. Cherki extinguished it immediately, driving home his second with his weaker right foot from the edge of the area in the 59th minute. 1–3.

Haaland wrapped it up in the 84th minute with a lovely and clinical finish — his second of the evening, City's fourth. The OG was the only blemish on an otherwise commanding away performance. City led from the first whistle and never looked like losing it.

The takeaway for every other team in this division: City won this 4–1, away from home, on a Friday night, apparently without reaching full intensity. Maresca's machine hums along. And they are still strengthening the squad — with Enzo Fernandez and Ndiaye joining this week.

The Couch predicted City 3–1. The result was City 4–1. Right winner. The Couch takes it and moves straight to MW3 preparations.