Crystal Palace vs Man City LIVE: Phil Foden fluffs chances to add to Erling Haaland’s opener in Premier League clash

Manchester City arrived at Selhurst Park on Friday night with a clear objective: secure back-to-back wins under new manager Enzo Maresca. Two late goals against Bournemouth last weekend salvaged a nervy start to his tenure, but tonight’s trip to Crystal Palace offered a more straightforward path to progress. Instead, it was Erling Haaland who provided the breakthrough, slotting home in the 44th minute to extend his perfect record at the ground to five games.

City’s control, Palace’s flickers

The visitors dominated possession and territory, but Crystal Palace carved out the brightest moments in patches. Early on, Adam Wharton’s industry caught the eye, linking well with Eddie Nketiah in the 41st minute. A loose touch from Nketiah under pressure let the chance slip, but the intent was there—something rare for a Palace side yet to find rhythm under Pierre Sage after their opening-day loss to Everton. The hosts pushed hard in the final 10 minutes, with Rayan Cherki forcing a smart save from Dean Henderson after a neat one-two with Antoine Semenyo, but Maresca’s side remained composed in possession.

Haaland’s opener arrived when Phil Foden’s cross reached the Norwegian at the far post. He controlled it with his chest before guiding it past Henderson, extending his scoring streak at Selhurst Park. Foden, often City’s creative hub, struggled to impose himself, misplacing five of his first 12 passes and failing to convert a half-chance when he cut inside Tyrick Mitchell in the 44th minute. His performance was described by one source as “patchy,” a contrast to Wharton’s livelier display on the opposite flank, where the former Blackburn man completed all six of his attempted dribbles.

Maresca’s balancing act

Maresca’s first two games have exposed the challenges of replacing a legend like Pep Guardiola. A 2-1 win over Bournemouth required late drama, and tonight’s single-goal lead owed much to Haaland’s composure rather than sustained dominance. The manager’s side remains in transition, with reports suggesting a potential move for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández could further reshape the midfield. For now, City’s new boss must rely on familiar faces while integrating fresh options—a delicate act in a league where every mistake is punished.

Palace, meanwhile, will take heart from their resistance. Sage’s team, still searching for cohesion, showed flashes of attacking intent, particularly through Cherki and Wharton. The visitors’ defensive line, marshalled by Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis, held firm, but Palace’s pressing in the final third forced City into errors. A late free-kick from Nketiah’s foul on Lewis in the 38th minute saw Joachim Andersen’s header drift wide, a rare Palace set-piece threat that fizzled out.

What comes next

City’s focus now turns to their next fixture, while Palace must regroup after a second consecutive setback. The result leaves both clubs in familiar positions: City chasing titles, Palace fighting to climb the table. For Maresca, the priority is consistency; for Sage, it’s building on the positives. Neither side can afford another stuttering start.

With European football on the horizon for Palace—their Europa League opponents are now known—their performance, though ultimately disappointing, offered glimpses of progress. For City, Haaland’s goal was a reminder of their attacking potency, but the midfield’s uneven shape, with Rodri often isolated against Palace’s double pivot, hinted at work still to be done. Maresca’s tenure is off to a competitive start, yet the real test lies in the weeks ahead.

As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 0-1, but the story was more nuanced. City held on, Palace showed fight, and the Premier League marched on.

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