Manchester City staged a remarkable comeback to beat Crystal Palace 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium, breaking the visitors’ eight-match unbeaten run on the road.
Pep Guardiola’s team was in trouble early, allowing two goals in the first 15 minutes. Eberechi Eze finished off Ismaila Sarr’s cross and Chris Richards headed home from close range to double Palace’s lead. A third from Eze was disallowed for offside, saving City further embarrassment.
That reprieve ignited the hosts into life. A thunderous 30-yard free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-1, crashing in off the post. Omar Marmoush soon equalised before half-time, reacting quickest to a sloppily-placed ball in the box to smash past Dean Henderson.
City completed their turnaround shortly after the start of the second half, as De Bruyne set up Mateo Kovacic to stroke home from the edge of the box. James McAtee made it 4-0 with a composed finish after racing onto Ederson’s pass, before substitute Nico O’Reilly volleyed home to complete an emphatic display.
The outcome lifts City’s top-four aspirations and heaps pressure on their Premier League rivals ahead of the weekend’s matches.
