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Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester City: Raheem Sterling nets a brace in win for Pep Guardiola's side
Raheem Sterling's double kept Manchester City's bid to retain their Premier League crown on track as they sank Crystal Palace 3-1.
Sterling took his goal tally for the season to 21 and Gabriel Jesus chipped in with the third as dominant City passed the latest test of their title credentials.
Selhurst Park has been a graveyard for title campaigns in the recent past, notably when Liverpool's wheels came off in 2014 and City suffered a similar fate a year later.
Palace were also looking to complete an unlikely double over the champions, as the only visiting team to win at the Etihad this season thanks to Andros Townsend's wonder-goal.
But with Christian Benteke, handed a first start since February 9, cutting an isolated figure in attack the Eagles failed to lay a glove on Pep Guardiola's side until Luka Milivojevic scored with a free-kick.
It did not knock City out of their stride, though, with substitute Jesus ensuring they recorded a ninth successive Premier League victory.
City arrived in south London with their Champions League first-leg defeat at Tottenham still fresh in their minds and were without midfielder Fernandinho due to a minor knock.
Sterling should have fired them ahead early on only to sidefoot wide from six yards out after David Silva had cut the ball back from the byline.
But the England forward made no mistake when presented with his next opportunity, in the 15th minute, after Kevin De Bruyne's through-ball dissected the Palace defence.
Sterling raced between Patrick Van Aanholt and Scott Dann before thumping the ball past Vicente Guaita and into the roof of the net.
The only surprise was that by half-time City had not added to their lead, such was their supremacy as they strolled around in the spring sunshine, with Silva pulling the strings.
Sergio Aguero drove over and Guaita saved well at his near post to deny Leroy Sane before Ilkay Gundogan's lofted ball into the box had Silva, Sterling and Sane lining up to apply the finish.
Unfortunately, they all rather got in each other's way and when the ball eventually dropped for De Bruyne his shot was blocked by a wall of defenders.
After the break, Guaita saved at the feet of Sane and Gundogan fired over before Sterling popped up with the second.
Aguero and Silva combined to feed Sane, who drilled the ball first time into the centre where Sterling placed it into the corner.
Milivojevic gave Palace hope with nine minutes left when he curled in a free-kick after James McArthur was tripped on the edge of the box.
But as Palace hunted an equaliser they were caught out on the break and De Bruyne fed Jesus in the last minute to wrap up another City victory.
"We always knew coming here, in the past has proven to be a difficult place."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 14, 2019
Raheem Sterling reflects on an important win for Manchester City.
Watch reaction now on Sky Sports Premier League or follow online here: https://t.co/ZpjCAmS4uX pic.twitter.com/BFDzRBNqdB
Opta facts
- Manchester City have won five away Premier League games against London sides this season, their highest ever number of victories in the capital within a single top-flight campaign.
- Crystal Palace have only won one of their last 13 Premier League games played on a Sunday (D3 L9), losing five of their last six such matches.
- Manchester City have scored 150 goals in all competitions this season, only the second time a top-flight side has managed that feat in all competitions in top-flight history, with Man City also doing so in 2013-14 (156 goals).
- Crystal Palace have lost 17 times in the Premier League this season, the joint-most defeats within a single campaign in the competition for a Roy Hogdson side alongside the 2011-12 season, whilst in charge of West Brom.
- Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic is the first player this season to score both home and away in the Premier League against Manchester City.
- Sergio Agüero has failed to score in each of his six Premier League appearances at Selhurst Park (15 shots, 0 goals) - only at Anfield (7 apps) has the Argentine visited more often in the competition without finding the net.
- Raheem Sterling’s brace for Manchester City was his first ever double away from home for the Cittizens, last scoring more than once on the road in any club competition back in December 2014 for Liverpool against Bournemouth.
- Kevin De Bruyne’s assist for Manchester City’s opening goal was his first in the Premier League in 336 days, last doing so before today on the final day of the 2017-18 season against Southampton.
- Gabriel Jesus has scored 19 goals for Manchester City in all competitions this season, averaging a goal every 112 minutes. Only Sergio Aguero (a goal every 99 mins) is averaging a goal at a quicker rate than the Brazilian for the club this season.