Sergio Aguero strikes twice and Manchester City thrash Crystal Palace

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Palace manager Alan Pardew says there were plenty of good things to take from his side’s performance despite losing 4-0 against Manchester City. We’ve passed the ball well, competed so much better than we did at Villa.

They weren’t four goals inferior but have now failed to win in five league games, while City will hope that a third win in six will propel them onto a more consistent run to enhance their prospects of usurping their title rivals on a permanent basis.

“In every game, he will continue to improve”. Not just for us but many teams in the Premier League to wonder whether that is something you can do a deal with.

The Blues are expected to keep the majority of the possession, especially because they are at home, and look to the creative trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, and David Silva, to wreck havoc in the Crystal Palace defence.

Silva linked up with Pablo Zabaleta on the right and found Delph 35 yards out, and the England global took a touch before fizzing a low strike towards goal which beat the Palace keeper and found the bottom corner.

Manchester City have won nine and lost just one of the last 10 meetings with Crystal Palace in all competitions.

Pellegrini also confirmed Aleksandar Kolarov will face a scan on Monday after taking “a kick on his calf”.

Palace were simply unable to find any real rhythm to their play following the restart, however, and it was a case of leaders City simply remaining professional for the remainder of the contest and picking off their opponents.

With time almost up, City counterattacked and de Bruyne released Aguero from inside their half. He was a touch fortunate with his first goal as his shot deflected off Scott Dann, but the way he checked back to give himself space for the second showed what a master of his craft he is.

Connor Wickham started his first game since returning from four weeks out and was praised by Pardew, who was again asked about the possibility of signing Emmanuel Adebayor after a fifth Premier League game without a goal. “Man City got that today – it should have been saved, they didn’t deserve it and it gave them the platform to go on and win”. Pardew himself is a favourite amongst the Crystal Palace faitbful, but consistent failure to win against relegation candidates like Bournemouth, Swansea City, and Aston Villa is something that will haunt the former Newcastle United boss.