Manchester City

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Crystal Palace fans

Jason: We created enough chances to get more from this match, but as usual failed to convert them. The team is behind in terms of coordination and understanding, i.e. playing as a team, due to lack of pre-season and ongoing transfers. It will get better, but I fear it may take a few more matches. We must get something from our next outing to Fulham!

Steve: We lack desire and talent. Some small glimpses on show, but we have an awful lot to do.

Cliff: Disappointing game. We gave the ball away too easily in midfield. Missed chances up front. New players did not impress. We need someone who can score goals.

Neil: Palace need a win to instil confidence, they lack a confident goalscorer. Another key factor is the increasing levels attainment in the league, even in the bottom half. I'm the most worried for years, the lack of investment coupled with an unproven manager. I hope I'm wrong?

Manchester City fans

Arthur: Man City were fantastic, the way they play the ball is brilliant, all the team members played well but Cherki and Haaland goals were brilliant and more signings come. Makes us so proud of you all, played superbly - well done City, you're the best.

Carl: Great performance, bit shaky to start but took control and it could have been six goals if Foden had finished them. It was nice to see him and Cherki play full games. They will only get better.

Harry: Very much a Man City performance. Remnants of Pep ball but with a lot more chaos. Tons of possession and looking a bit open at the back. It's a risky play style but can lead to brilliant match-ups like this. It was an incredibly strong performance away from home, many positives in the shape of Rayan Cherki and Haaland. Bouaddi looked excellent in his cameo, excited to see him and our academy lads going forward.

Brian: True grit and a will to win. Man City fought hard and played an attacking game to test a determined Crystal Palace defence. Man City are back to winning ways and that belief has transformed into success. Yes there will be tougher games but the message has been delivered Man City are back and back in style. The City fans are full of belief and voice.

Man City starting XI:

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Hardly overworked but made a crucial early save from Nketiah as Palace threatened. 6

Abdukodir Khusanov: Showed his versatility at right-back. Lightning pace. 6

Ruben Dias: Rock solid and untroubled. Brushed aside any challenges. 7

Josko Gvardiol: Figured at left-back but was always willing to lend his weight to City's attacking forays. 6

Nico O'Reilly: Elegant and showed lots of classy touches in a role further forward. 7

Elliot Anderson: Always demanding the ball and ready to put his body on the line in the physical exchanges. Settling in. 7

Marc Guehi: Warm welcome on his return to Selhurst Park, playing in central defence as opposed to his previous role in midfield. 6

Phil Foden: Missed a big first-half chance when he should have scored but played a part in Cherki's first goal. Lively at times. 6

Rayan Cherki: Glorious touches and dribbling skills, capped with a touch of genius and arrogance for his goals. 8

Antoine Semenyo: Provided the inviting cross for Haaland's first goal. Always a threat. 7

Erling Haaland: Off the mark with a trademark header and a powerhouse finish. Scored in all six of his Premier League appearances at Selhurst Park. 7

Man City substitutes:

Kovacic (on 75, Gvardiol), McAidoo (on 82 Cherki), Bouaddi (on Anderson 82), Reis (on 89, Khusanov), Braithwaite (on 89, O'Reilly)

Subs not used: Ruli, Ait-Nouri, Echeverri, Lewis.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Image source, Getty Images

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison on Sky Sports said: "Rayan Cherki manipulates the ball ever so well. He's always in control, that's the biggest thing.

"Maresca can't change Cherki's game because if you change his game, you won't get the same player. There's not many who can move the ball like he does. He's been outstanding and you can see that he believes in himself.

"I would pay to watch Cherki, he's pure entertainment, he ran the show. Really positive performance from Man City this evening."

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca had warned on the eve of this game: "Crystal Palace away is always complicated."

Yet, apart from one or two moments, this was pretty straightforward for Manchester City once they went 2-0 ahead, with Foden looking the part and ending the night with two assists.

There is a real sense of transition under new boss Maresca following the exits of huge personalities in the shape of Pep Guardiola, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

But so far so good for City, who sent on their new expensive teenage signing Ayyoub Bouaddi in the closing stages.

Will there be more arrivals before the transfer deadline?

City are interested in Everton winger Illiman Ndiaye, 26, while there are reports that Brazilian winger Allan, 22, is also on his way to Etihad Stadium from Palmeiras in a deal worth up to £34.2m.

There is also the possibility of Enzo Fernandez linking up with his former Chelsea boss Maresca in the next few days, while Jack Grealish looks to be on his way out after being left out of this game.

With Erling Haaland up and running and Rayan Cherki registering two goals and two assists in his opening two games of the campaign, City look menacing, with newly promoted Coventry City up next at home on 5 September (15:00 BST).

Remarkably, Haaland now has 24 Premier League goals in just 16 appearances in the month of August. Only former Manchester United striker Andy Cole (25 in 44) has scored more in the same month.

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca told BBC Sport: "Probably the first five or 10 minutes we saw how difficult it was. It's a difficult pitch and tough opponents.

"After 10 minutes we controlled the game on the ball and off the ball and deserved to win."

On moving Marc Guehi back to defence: "We try to find solutions. Marc was in midfield last week. Today we changed something. it's my job to find the solution."

On Rayan Cherki: "His performance off the ball was unbelievable. Everyone knows his quality but when he works hard off the ball, he was in charge of Wharton - he controlled him. He was very good."

On Erling Haaland: "We know Erling. We know when we make chances it's good for him. We try to create chances for him as much as we can."

On Phil Foden: "In the last 10-15 minutes you can see he was even more happy to play inside behind Erling. That's his position. He's trying to adapt and trying to help when playing winger. His working is good, he's doing very good."

Manchester City midfield Elliot Anderson speaking to Sky Sports: "Yeah, I enjoyed it today. I felt more at home today, it's my third game now and I feel like I'm getting better. There's still more to come."

When asked whether he had butterflies before his debut: "Yeah, of course. I'm always nervous when I go on the pitch but my first outing at the Etihad was pretty special. But it's two wins from two now so I'm pretty happy.

"I'm loving it. It's a bit different to what I've been used to.

"I've got to be a bit more structured, that's what I'm learning - to stay in my position when at Forest I was doing a little bit more."

On Rayan Cherki's solo goal: "I'm just sat back watching. I see this every day since I've joined, him, Phil... they've got so much talent. It's no surprise, to be honest. The talent they have is scary."

Did you know?

• Enzo Maresca is the fifth manager to win both of his first two Premier League games in charge of Manchester City after Brian Horton, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola - only Chelsea (8) and Spurs (6) have had more different managers win their first two matches in the competition.

• On his 181st league appearance across Europe's big five leagues, Manchester City's Rayan Cherki scored two goals for the very first time.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Saturday for a selection of your replies.

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park on Friday night against the backdrop of a potential exit for their star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

A 2-0 defeat away at Everton in his opening game was not the start new head coach Pierre Sage was looking for, and the result was compounded by news of a contract row involving his fellow Frenchman, while last season's top scorer Ismail Sarr is on Liverpool's radar.

Mateta believes the one-year contract extension triggered by the club last season is invalid. Palace fans did not take kindly to his wantaway antics earlier this year, and although his winner in May's Conference League triumph over Rayo Vallecano went some way to making amends, he is unlikely to be forgiven a second time.

Sage advice

Sage said on Wednesday: "I think he will stay… he has the behaviour of someone who is happy to be here, who wants to be here and is prepared to be here all season. I have no doubt about that."

Mateta missed two big chances in the first half against Everton, and Palace's profligacy in front of goal has been a cause of concern for some time now. The Eagles were the biggest xG underperformers in the Premier League last season.

It's a problem that blighted their rollercoaster 2025-26 season under Oliver Glasner, which started and ended with a trophy lift but was permeated by some dreadful league form.

Among the ever-present teams in the division, no-one has fared worse over the past eight league games (straddling the two seasons).

Guehi makes his Marc in midfield

After failing to lay a glove on Arsenal in the Community Shield the previous Sunday, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca got off to a winning start in the Premier League against Bournemouth last week.

The Italian surprised everyone by playing centre-back Marc Guehi in midfield, a role the England defender had played just twice before in his senior career, both times for Crystal Palace.

Since that 2-1 comeback win over the Cherries at Etihad Stadium, City have been hard at work in the transfer window. Morocco's teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi has joined from Lille for an initial £81.4m, while Savio and Nico Gonzalez have departed for surprisingly hefty fees.

Maresca has confirmed that Bouaddi is available for selection, but whether he is thrown straight into the mix, or Guehi continues to moonlight in midfield against his former employer, remains to be seen.

Guehi did a sterling job alongside Elliot Anderson against Bournemouth, missing a great chance before heading home the equaliser from a Rayan Cherki corner, and it was the Frenchman who unpicked the visitors' defence for Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time winner too.

Cherki, on as a 63rd-minute substitute, started just one game for France at the World Cup – the chaotic third-place play-off defeat by England – but he finished last season as one of City's brightest performers.

In fact, since his arrival from Lyon last summer, Cherki has more top-flight assists from open play than any other player – including Bruno Fernandes, who in 2025-26 set a new competition record for overall assists in one season.

Crystal Palace had a poor start away to Everton and it looks like there's a bit of interest from Liverpool in Ismaila Sarr.

The one thing they can't do before the end of the window is lose all the best players. But I do think they've got a goal in them.

I thought Manchester City deserved to win against Bournemouth. They were a little bit clunky with Mark Guehi playing in midfield - a penny for the thoughts of Mateo Kovacic - but now they've got the youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi, although he'll need a bit of time to adapt.

I don't think this will be a cruise for City, I think they'll be pushed, but I think they'll get over the line. Erling Haaland didn't score last weekend so I expect him to get up to the mark.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's director of football Hugo Viana says the club will be "happy to see" Rodri again after setting up a Champions League reunion with the Spaniard and his new club Barcelona.

City have been handed a tough league phase draw, also coming up against holders Paris St-Germain and Napoli.

Viana said: "The most important thing is to be here now, so of course there is games for you guys maybe more important or more enthusiastic than others, but for us all the games are very important.

"I was saying to one of my colleagues nowadays it's very difficult to compete with any team. So we have very good coaches, very good players everywhere. The players are physically in top shape. So we are ready to compete and the games are all very, very difficult.

"Of course, it's always a challenge to play against the European champions.

"Rodri is there (Barcelona), we are happy to see him again and also Napoli that we played last year and we had the pleasure to have Kevin on the field and of course facing that opponent and when you have friends on the pitch it's always good.

"And I'm happy also that I will see Sporting coming to Manchester, my former club, and I go to my country to face Porto. We go to France to play Lens, they were doing really well. AEK also, they were doing really well last season and Leipzig is a really tough opponent also."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's draw is complete - Enzo Maresca's side now know the eight sides they will be meeting in the Champions League's 36-club league phase.

The teams were seeded into four pots based on their results in Uefa competitions over the past five years, with pot one being the highest-ranked and pot four being the lowest-ranked.

Each club has been drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, but they can only play a maximum of two teams from one country and they cannot play against a team from their domestic league.

The 2023 Champions League winners will face: Paris St-Germain (home), Barcelona (away), Sporting (home), Porto (away), Napoli (home), Leipzig (away), AEK Athens (home), Lens (away).

The order of those fixtures will be announced by Uefa in due course.

League phase dates:

Matchday 1: 8-10 September 2026

Matchday 2: 13-14 October 2026

Matchday 3: 20-21 October 2026

Matchday 4: 3-4 November 2026

Matchday 5: 24-25 November 2026

Matchday 6: 8-9 December 2026

Matchday 7: 19-20 January 2027

Matchday 8: 27 January 2027

Knockout phase dates:

Knockout phase play-offs: 16-17 and 23-24 February 2027

Round of 16: 9-10 and 16-17 March 2027

Quarter-finals: 6-7 and 13-14 April 2027

Semi-finals: 27-28 April and 4-5 May 2027

Final: 5 June 2027, Madrid

See how the rest of the league phase draw panned out

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Newly promoted Coventry City are in talks to sign Manchester City defender Stephen Mfuni on a season-long loan deal.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut as a substitute in the FA Cup third round last season, before going on to make eight appearances on loan at Watford in the Championship.

Several clubs from the second tier have reportedly been interested in signing Mfuni, but he now appears set to play under Frank Lampard at the CBS Arena.

Coventry have been busy in the transfer market on their return to the Premier League, signing 10 players so far for a total outlay of about £130m.

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City hold an interest in signing Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, who has rejected multiple contract offers on Merseyside.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal held a strong interest in signing the Senegal international this summer, but the 26-year-old reportedly turned down the move.

David Moyes' side are under no pressure to sell Ndiaye, whose contract runs until 2029, and are likely to demand a significant fee in the region of £70m to even consider a sale.

Jack Grealish's preference would be to go the other way and return to Everton should he leave City in the remaining days of the transfer window, sources have told BBC Sport.

The 30-year-old has appeared as a substitute in City's opening two games of the season, but new boss Enzo Maresca is open to letting the Englishman leave the club before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

Grealish spent last season with the Toffees, scoring twice and providing six assists in 20 appearances, before sustaining a season-ending foot injury in January.

Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear recently told BBC Radio Merseyside the club have "remained in contact" with the player.

Grealish's former club Aston Villa are also believed to still be interested in re-signing their ex-captain, but City sources say there have been no concrete offers from any club so far this summer.