Guardiola hails influence of ‘real central defender’ Kompany

That was the start of a three-game sequence of losses, with the reverse at Manchester City particularly concerning as Palace conceded the opener after only two minutes to David Silva and barely threatened Pep Guardiola’s side.

However, four of the goals came after half-time and Guardiola felt they had to get the second goal early or risk losing all three points once again.

Vincent Kompany’s injury absences have been keenly felt by Manchester City but Pep Guardiola hailed a “huge step” after the captain led his side to a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

“I don’t think you can set out and say you want to win 5-0 – first of all you want to win – but then when you do it you realise it was a big result and a big performance”. We’ve missed that this season a lot. We’ve been guilty of that a little bit.

Guardiola’s acknowledgement of Kompany’s virtues perhaps marks a shift in his thinking as he has come to terms with the Premier League.

A combination of poor final passes and sound goalkeeping from Palace’s Wayne Hennessey prevented City from increasing their tally for a while.

“Some players came here to the Premier League, in the first year and the second season it was hard and then… wow, explosion”. The Belgian and Otamendi, plus Yaya Toure, anchored City in the centre, allowing de Bruyne and Silva to roam and a lighting-quick front line to attack the spaces between and behind Palace’s defenders. We got a goal from David, got a goal from Kevin.

“But you have the feeling when they cross, or when you cross on a corner and a free-kick, that you are there”.

“When they have that momentum you have to support that because they are young”.

City showed that they do not need to only rely on their strikers to get the goals. And on Saturday we discovered maybe he can play as a striker. The numbers don’t lie, though, we have created so many chances but haven’t scored enough. “It’s a possibility that we’ve been talking about and certainly warning them about”, Allardyce said. Manchester City, when they beat you here, normally produce outstanding skills, but we gifted them easy chances to score and they thrashed us.

An important win over Palace sees City loop above Liverpool into third place, with both teams having played the same number of games.

Pablo Zabaleta has indicated he is ready to make the “tough decision” and end his Manchester City career this summer after nearly a decade with the club with Pep Guardiola poised to try and bring in £35million England right-back Kyle Walker from Tottenham.

Kompany added: “At the moment it’s about being in the top four and when that’s achieved it will be about finishing third”.