Manchester City 0-2 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Eagles stun Cityzens

Conor Gallagher sealed the win for Crystal Palace
Conor Gallagher sealed the win for Crystal Palace / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
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Crystal Palace shocked Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, with Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher goals earning the Eagles a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

Patrick Vieira's men started very brightly and got the breakthrough inside six minutes. Gallagher nicked the ball from a dozy Aymeric Laporte before playing through Zaha, who just managed to sneak the ball past Ederson.

Laporte's afternoon then severely worsened in first-half stoppage time. Zaha rolled his man before getting ready to bear down on goal, only for the Spaniard to keep a hold of the forward's shirt before bringing him down in blatant fashion. Following a quick and conclusive VAR check, Laporte was confirmed as the last man and swiftly went for an early shower.

Two goals were scored around the hour mark, although both brought back for offside. Zaha thought he'd doubled Palace's lead before Gabriel Jesus saw his effort chalked off.

Gallagher's late goal would then seal Palace's 2-0 win. Starting and finishing a fluid counter attack, the 21-year-old calmly and emphatically dispatched Michael Olise's cut back before celebrating with the travelling contingent.

Now, let's see how the players rated.


Manchester City player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Andre Marriner, Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva - Soccer Midfielder
Oh dear / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Ederson (GK) - 5/10 - Would've done well to keep the opener out and had no chance with the second.

Kyle Walker (RB) - 6/10 -
Marauded forward too occasionally but really worried the opposition when he did, supplying some excellent balls into the box.

Ruben Dias (CB) - 7/10 -
Characteristically vocal, stoic and unfazed at the back, remaining strong to register eight tackles throughout.

Aymeric Laporte (CB) - 1/10 -
Terribly sloppy in the build up to Palace's early opener and then clumsily brought Zaha down as the last man. Wow, what a shocker.

Joao Cancelo (LB) - 6/10 -
Coped well on the back foot to make four ball recoveries, although was slack in possession

2. Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne was disappointing / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

Rodri (DM) - 6/10 - A brilliantly composed passer and stable presence in front of the back four, but was powerless to the counter attack for both Palace's strikes.

Bernardo Silva (CM) - 6/10 -
Ran the channels well and looked so silky when carrying the ball, although couldn't quite prove decisive.

Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - 4/10 -
Sporadically managed to find space around the area, but just looked completely off colour and lackadaisical in possession before being hooked off. Bizarre to see.

3. Forwards

Gabriel Jesus, Wilfried Zaha
There was tension between Gabriel Jesus and Wilf Zaha throughout / Naomi Baker/GettyImages

Gabriel Jesus (RW) - 6/10 - Some lively movement from wide and exciting, direct, driving runs at his opposition - but that was too far and few between. Like his colleagues, couldn't break through.

Phil Foden (ST) - 5/10 - Had some lovely moments of interplay but was simply afforded too little space to do anything to change the game.

Jack Grealish (LW) - 6/10 -
Gave flashes of his genius with sharp movements around the box and managed four key passes. Just couldn't pierce the Palace defence, however.

4. Substitutes

John Stones (CB) - 6/10 - Demonstrated his playmaking abilities immediately after his introduction but was another to be dominated by Palace's vibrant attackers late on.

Riyad Mahrez (RW) - 6/10

Raheem Sterling (LW) - 6/10

Crystal Palace player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Gabriel Jesus, Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi was strong throughout / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

Vicente Guaita (GK) - 7/10 - Loud and assured between the sticks, and made a few saves

Joel Ward (RB) - 7/10 - Stuck to his task throughout, keeping tight to his opposition and particularly keeping Grealish quiet in the final third. An actual brick wall in the face of the City man.

Joachim Andersen (CB) - 7/10 - Great positional awareness to cut out the danger on several occasions, making four ball recoveries and five clearances.

Marc Guehi (CB) - 8/10 - Really strong and committed defending to make eight interventions, while also consistently finding a considered and progressive out-ball from the back.

Tyrick Mitchell (LB) - 7/10 - Just gets his head down and does the job. Always keen to surge forward but never relinquished defensive responsibility, often positioning himself perfectly to stifle City attacks.

6. Midfielders

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-CRYSTAL PALACE
Conor Gallagher was bright once again / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

Cheikhou Kouyate (DM) - 7/10 - Trumped Rodri's subtle elegance with his own chaotic brilliance. Such an anarchic player, but always there to keep things compact and break up play at the right time, making five ball recoveries.

Conor Gallagher (CM) - 9/10 -
Great intensity to press and subsequently assist Zaha for the opening goal - setting the tone for his afternoon. Intelligent, tenacious and bright in every department and deservedly scored late on. Crucial to this side, and looking like a real player.

James McArthur (CM) - 6/10 -
Hardly noticeable at all, but important nonetheless. His positioning in midfield closed space down for City's creatives throughout.

7. Forwards

Jordan Ayew (RW) - 6/10 - Worked his socks off all afternoon, constantly tracking back to stifle the hosts' left-wing.

Wilf Zaha (ST) - 8/10 - Bright and inventive throughout, causing havoc. Made no mistake early on to put his side ahead with his 50th Premier League goal, before forcing Laporte into an irreversible error before half-time.

Odsonne Edouard (LW) - 6/10 - Strong and composed on the ball, proving a reliable outlet for his side while linking with Zaha smoothly.

8. Substitutes

Christian Benteke (ST) - 5/10

Jeffrey Schlupp (LW) - 6/10

Michael Olise (CM) - 8/10 - Bright throughout his cameo, coolly assisting Gallagher late on.