In the end, the result was never really in doubt.
After all, this was Crystal Palace – Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace – a side propping up the Premier League at the start of play, with no points to their name and, even more worryingly, no goals scored. In contrast, they were facing a Manchester City side that had found the net 12 times in the three games since their last run-out at home: the 5-0 mauling of Liverpool.
Despite all this, the first half didn’t pan out the way the majority of those in attendance at the Etihad might have expected it to. Of course, City, a team that can keep a ball longer than the lady off Titanic can keep a secret, dominated possession. They also had a good few chances early on, perhaps the best being the one which forced Wayne Hennessey to save from Fernandinho after 11 minutes.
But, to Hodgson’s credit, the visitors were very much in the game. As well as being organised at the back, they also posed a threat on the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, arguably their best player in the first half, saw his shot deflected on to a post. Minutes later, he went close again, dragging his shot wide of goal from inside the City area.
With five minutes to half-time, the home crowd were restless – both with their own side’s occasional (and uncharacteristically) loose passing and Hennessey taking an age with every goal kick. It was goalless and Palace were in sight of half-time.
And then Leroy Sane scored.
The German international received the ball on the left touchline, fed it to David Silva and continued his run. Not for the first time since arriving on these shores, the Spaniard unpicked the lock: his lofted ball over the top controlled brilliantly by Sane in the box and slotted home. They’d been made to work for it, but City had their lead.
Within 15 minutes of the break, City were home and hosed. They upped the tempo, and Palace couldn’t live with it – hardly touching the ball in the six minutes between the start of the half and Raheem Sterling knocking home City’s second after being found by Sane’s cross.
Soon after, Sterling had another. Found by Aguero this time, the England international was presented with another straightforward opportunity to find the back of the net.
Aguero had to wait until the 79th minute for his obligatory goal. Again, Sane was involved, his cross nodded through Hennessey’s hands by the Argentine.
By the time substitute Fabian Delph curled home a fifth late on, the fact the game had so nearly been goalless at half-time seemed ridiculous.
Of course, it’s still far too early to be talking about Premier League titles for Pep Guardiola. It is, however, hard to deny that City, especially after recent performances, are looking the real deal. Yes, there will be sterner challenges ahead than this one, but there’s very much a sense that this team are on the brink of something special.
