Player Ratings: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

Dean Henderson – 7
No chance with either of Manchester City’s goals, but this was a reminder of his class. Denied Anderson with a sharp early stop, then stood up well to efforts from Semenyo and Cherki. Kept Palace in it for long spells.

Jaydee Convot – 6
Rarely flustered and stuck to his task, yet found himself dragged around as Cherki grew into the game. Not exposed by individual errors, just beaten by a higher level of attacking quality.

Chris Richards – 6
Threw himself into the duel with Haaland and didn’t back down, but the Norwegian inevitably had the upper hand. Should have done better with a free first-half header that he planted off target.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6
Brought his usual calm and authority. Read danger, won his duels, and tried to organise those around him. A steady debut in Palace colours, even as the game tilted away from them.

Anan Khalaili – 6
Full of running, snapping into challenges and offering an outlet. The intensity was there, the final ball was not. Promising energy, but little in the way of cutting edge.

Daichi Kamada – 5
Covered plenty of ground, always available, always showing. Yet City’s midfield carousel largely played around him. Couldn’t quite put his stamp on the contest when Palace needed control.

Adam Wharton – 7
The standout in red and blue. Passed with authority, picked clever angles, and rarely seemed rushed. At the heart of most of Palace’s best moves before City’s relentless tempo eventually swamped the midfield.

Tyrick Mitchell – 6
Aggressive in the tackle and quick across the turf, he offered bite down the flank. But he will replay that first-half header in his mind – a big chance to level that he failed to take.

Eddie Nketiah – 5
Started brightly, stinging Donnarumma’s palms and stretching the back line. After the break, the spark dimmed. Spurned a crucial opportunity early in the second half that could have changed the narrative.

Yeremy Pino – 6
Frustrating one moment, dangerous the next. His delivery and decision-making can vary, but the threat is real. Proved it with a superb free-kick that forced Donnarumma’s own goal.

Jorgen Strand Larsen – 5
Worked the channels, pressed from the front, but never truly unsettled Dias. Lost most of the physical contests and squandered his one clear first-half opening. A tough afternoon.

Subs

• Guessand (on 63, Strand Larsen) – Added fresh legs but little change to Palace’s attacking punch.
• Gozo (on 68, Pino) – Tried to inject pace, rarely found in dangerous positions.
• McNeil (on 68, Nketiah) – Offered industry on the flank without the final delivery.
• Disasi (on 74, Tomiyasu) – Slotted in and helped see out the closing stages without drama.
• Mingueza (on 74, Khalaili) – Neat and tidy, but arrived too late to influence the pattern.