Manchester City thrash Crystal Palace to tighten grip on top-four place

Vincent Kompany scored a sensational goal as Manchester City hammered Crystal Palace 5-0 at home to boost their hopes of a top four finish.

City, who were without Sergio Aguero due to a groin injury, dominated the first half and were ahead within two minutes through David Silva’s volley.

The home side continued to be at their freeflowing best in the second period and skipper Kompany doubled their lead with a wonderful first-time effort which nestled in the top corner.

Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne’s pace continued to wreak havoc and the Belgian made it 3-0 with a long-range effort that Wayne Hennessey should have kept out.

Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi sealed the rout late on in a result which sees Pep Guardiola’s side move third on goal difference while the Eagles remain six points off the drop zone.

Was this City’s best performance of the season? This display certainly ranks as one of their best as they dominated from start to finish. It was a strong all-round team display, showcasing the sort of freeflowing football that Guardiola is known for. City were playing this sort of football at the start of the season which saw them win ten games on the spin in August and September but this was special.

David Silva (Manchester City): The Spaniard was not expected to play today due to injury but he certainly made his mark. He scored early on having set up the move with a breath-taking passing to Sterling. And the playmaker was at the centre of City’s attacks, bossing the midfield and allowing Sterling, Leroy Sane and the brilliant De Bruyne to break down the flanks.

MANCHESTER CITY: Caballero 6, Fernandinho 6, Kompany 8, Otamendi 6, Clichy 6, Toure 6, Sterling 8, De Bruyne 8, Silva 9, Sane 7, Jesus 5. Subs: Zabaleta 5, Navas n/a, Iheanacho n/a

CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey 5, Ward 4, Kelly 4, Van Aanholt 6, Schlupp 5, Milijovevic 5, Puncheon 5, McArthur 4, Zaha 6, Townsend 5, Benteke 5. Subs: Flamini 5, Delaney 5.

2’ - GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace: Silva volleys the ball in from close range after a terrible headed clearance from Kelly.

6’ - CLOSE! Palace launch a counter attack through van Aanholt, who threads the ball through to Zaha who is pushed by Toure in the box and appeals for a penalty but the referee waves play on. The winger looked to have gone to ground easily.

32’ – DOUBLE EFFORT: Sane jinks past Ward and fires in an effort across goal which is parried, the ball falls to Sterling whose tame low shot is cleared off the line.

35’ - GOOD SAVE! Townsend chips in a cross from the right for Benteke whose header is brilliantly palmed away one-handed by Caballero.

49’ - GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Crystal Palace: Kompany thumps the ball into the top corner with a first time effort following a corner. That was a striker's finish!

52’ – WOODWORK! Milijovevic is booked for tripping De Bruyne on the area of the area. The Belgian's effort hits the top of the crossbar!

59’ - GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace: De Bruyne ends his goal drought with a side-footed effort from around 20 yards after Jesus's lay-off.

82’ - GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace: Sterling gets on the scoresheet with a well-taken half volley from Zabaleta's flick on.

90’+2 - GOAL! Manchester City 5-0 Crystal Palace: Otamendi with a diving header from De Bruyne free-kick which flies into the roof of the net. City have been five-star today.

Kevin De Bruyne's 15 assists this season is the joint-most by a Man City player in a single league campaign (Silva in 2011-12)

Palace have not kept a clean sheet against City in the league since May 1993 under Steve Coppell.