Rayan Cherki Scores First Premier League Brace in City's Victory

Manchester City brushed aside their first away test of the Premier League season on Friday night, dismantling Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park to keep their perfect start intact.

Erling Haaland, last season’s Golden Boot winner, needed just 17 minutes to get moving again. The Norwegian drifted into space, met a cross cleanly and steered a precise header beyond the Palace defense to open his account for the campaign. One chance, one goal. Business as usual.

City controlled the tempo from there, squeezing Palace back and waiting for the gaps to open. After the break, Rayan Cherki took full advantage.

The Frenchman lit up the second half. Surrounded by red-and-blue shirts, he slalomed through a crowded box, riding challenges and keeping his balance before prodding in from close range to double the visitors’ lead. It was a goal built on quick feet and composure in chaos.

Palace, though, refused to fold. Almost immediately, they found a lifeline in bizarre fashion. Yeremy Pino whipped a superb free kick against the crossbar; the ball cannoned down, struck the back of the diving Gianluigi Donnarumma and spun over the line. A moment of quality, finished off by pure misfortune for the City goalkeeper, dragged the hosts back into it.

Any hope of a comeback barely had time to grow.

Cherki struck again just two minutes later. Picking the ball up just outside the area, he let fly. The shot took a deflection, wrong-footed Dean Henderson and nestled into the net. Not the cleanest strike he will ever hit, but it sealed the first brace of his Premier League career and restored City’s two-goal cushion.

From there, City tightened their grip. Passes zipped, Palace chased shadows, and the visitors looked every bit like champions setting an early standard.

Haaland applied the final touch six minutes from time, driving in a left-footed finish to complete his own brace and cap a ruthless attacking display. Two games, two wins, six points: City sit on top of the league, already setting a familiar pace.