ERLING Haaland and Rayan Cherki both scored twice as Manchester City made it two Premier League wins out of two under Enzo Maresca – and left Crystal Palace without a point after back-to-back defeats.
Haaland, last season’s leading scorer with 27 league goals, opened his account for the season to set City on their way with a guided header after being picked out by Antoine Semenyo in the 17th minute.
In an entertaining game, Cherki doubled the lead with a lovely 54th-minute finish after dancing past a couple of challenges, before Palace pulled one back two minutes later when Gianluigi Donnarumma became the first City keeper to score a Premier League own goal since Costel Pantilimon in December 2013.
Yeremy Pino’s free-kick over the City wall struck the bar before hitting the back of Donnarumma and then going in off the post.
However, Cherki’s deflected 59th-minute finish off Chris Richards made it 3-1, before Haaland rounded off a fine performance with City’s fourth following good work by Phil Foden.
Palace had started on the front foot with three attempts in the opening five minutes, the best of which saw Italy stopper Donnarumma keep out Eddie Nketiah’s shot following a razor-sharp pass by Adam Wharton.
But City quickly took control and after Elliot Anderson had been denied by Dean Henderson, Haaland pounced before Foden missed a golden chance to double the lead when he fired over from 10 yards.
In a free-flowing game watched by England manager Thomas Tuchel, Tyrick Mitchell should have equalised in the 34th minute but put his header wide after a cross from the impressive Wharton, while Nketiah wasted another chance after half-time before Cherki made it 2-0.
Palace were without their star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose future remains uncertain amid interest from other clubs before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
According to reports,, external however, the scorer of 50 goals in 163 appearances for the Eagles suffered a hamstring injury in training and is expected to be out for about four weeks, throwing into doubt a move away from Palace this summer.
His place was taken by Jorgen Strand Larsen, yet it was his Norway team-mate who helped decide the game – with Haaland having now scored an astonishing 10 goals in six Premier League games against Palace.
Palace, who gave a debut off the bench to new signing Axel Disasi, are now without a win in nine Premier League games stretching back to last season.
In the 2-0 defeat by Everton on the opening weekend they hit the woodwork twice before fading in the second half.
Against City they threatened in spells but even after pulling one back they conceded soon after.
This was Pierre Sage’s first taste of the night-game atmosphere at Selhurst Park and while the new Palace boss saw moments of positivity from his side, the Frenchman knows the next few days could be critical to Palace’s season as Tuesday’s 23:00 BST transfer deadline nears.
Will they fight off late advances for Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, who is also injured but is on Liverpool’s radar?
Meanwhile, right-back Daniel Munoz started on the bench on the day he was subject of a reported £22m bid from Nottingham Forest, managed by ex-Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
Losing to big-spending Manchester City is no disgrace and there will be no alarm bells sounding with the season still so young, particularly as Palace are still adjusting to life after Glasner, who inspired their memorable FA Cup and Conference League triumphs.
But the Eagles will be anxious to end their losing start as quickly as possible, with their next three games before the first international break of the season against Fulham (away), Ipswich (home) and Leeds (away).