Raheem Sterling double downs Crystal Palace as City title charge continues

Raheem Sterling scored twice as Manchester City maintained title pace with a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Sterling gave the visitors the lead in the 15th minute, after failing to find the target earlier on in the game.

Palace defended reasonably well but were probably lucky to end the first half just a goal down, though City would no doubt have been left wondering if they might later live to regret missed opportunities.

At times in the second half, Palace were able to put pressure on the visitors, but it was Sterling who doubled City’s lead in the 63rd minute from a David Silva cross.

Luka Milivojevic made the most of a foul by Ilkay Gundogan on the edge of the box to score from a free kick and give the home side some hope, though all in all, Palace lacked pace, accuracy and creativity throughout.

The final nail in the coffin came courtesy of Gabriel Jesus, brought on as a sub to replace Sergio Aguero in the 75th minute, who slotted home after good work from Kevin de Bruyne.

Palace remain in 13th place while City, having played the same number of games as Liverpool, leapfrog the leaders to take the top spot by one point.

The chase for the Premier League title couldn’t be closer and all bets are off as we go into the final furlong. Despite Sterling firing on all cylinders, City still have Tottenham and Manchester United to face this season, in matches that will be hotly contested. If Liverpool can overcome Chelsea this afternoon, they face a much more favourable run a the season comes to a close.

Though there was tough competition from the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Gundogan, it has to be Sterling, scoring a brace taking his tally to ten goals in nine games for club and country, and to 21 for City this season.

Crystal Palace: Guaita 5, Wan-Bissaka 7, Kelly 6, Dann 6, van Aanholt 6, McArthur 6, Milivojevic 7, Schlupp 4, Tonwsend 6, Benteke 6, Zaha 6. Subs: Meyer 5, Kouyate 6, Sako 5.

Manchester City: Ederson 6, Walker 7, Kompany 6, Laporte 7, Mendy 6, de Bruyne 8, Gundogan 8, Silva 7, Sterling 8, Aguero 6, Sane 7. Subs: Stones 5, Bernardo Silva 6, Gabriel Jesus 7, Muric.

15’ GOAL! Sterling gives the visitors the lead as he runs the ball in from the edge of the centre third and finds the net. 1-0 to City.

63’ GOAL! It's Sterling again who takes David Silva's cross from the edge of the six yard box with his left foot and finds the bottom far corner of the goal.

81’ GOAL FOR PALACE! Milivojevic strikes straight through the wall from a free kick just on the edge of the box, and into the back of the net. Can Palace take a point? It's Palace 1-2 City.

90’ GOAL! Gabriel Jesus scores just as Palace look to be putting the pressure on. He's unmarked on the far corner of the box and slots the ball in the bottom right corner. Arguably offside, but it will stand.