Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace Review

Premier League GW36

It’s back-to-back 3-0 wins for Manchester City at home, ahead of the FA Cup Final, and with plenty of depth players coming into impress. Phil Foden delivered a performance you could see coming across the past two appearances off the bench, and one that fans were desperate to see. Two points behind Arsenal, and many of the starters rested, ready to take on Chelsea.

MOTM: PHIL FODEN

Phil Foden provides two assists, leads the team for defensive actions (10), chances created (5), tackles (3), and box entries (4) for Manchester City. Only Donnarumma made more ball recoveries. It’s the performance we’ve wanted to see this year, on the way back to the level he showed in the first half of the season, after signing a new contract, and ready to kick on for next season.

A lot is made of Foden needing to play exclusively in the pockets, close to goal, but against Crystal Palace, he showed his qualities deeper, progressing the ball, and working off it. Only O’Reilly, Nunes, Silva, and Rodri have made more tackles and recoveries for the team this PL season.

Notable Stats:

• 3 - Phil Foden has provided three assists across his last three Premier League starts, as many as he provided in his previous 42 starts combined.

• Phil Foden provided two assists in the first half against Crystal Palace, making it the first time in his career that he has provided multiple assists in the first half of a Premier League match.

• Across all competitions, Manchester City had three players who scored 8+ goals in 24/25. This season, they've got seven.

• 18 clean sheets for Donnarumma across all competitions now this season, his joint career best with Milan 17/18.

Game Stats:

Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace

• xG: 1.58 - 0.57

• xThreat: 2.0 - 0.74

• Possession: 71.7% - 28.3%

• Field Tilt: 91.9% - 8.1%

• Penalty Box Shots: 10 - 5

• Deep Entries: 16 - 6

• PPDA: 7.7 - 22.4

• High Turnovers: 8 - 2

Josko Gvardiol starts his first game since Chelsea (H) on the 3rd of January.

Tenth start for the CB pairing of Guehi and Khusanov. Seven wins, three draws, eight goals conceded, and five clean sheets kept.

Abdukodir Khusanov (2,637) is now the most used central defender for Manchester City this season, overtaking Ruben Dias (2,556) for minutes played.

First PL start for Phil Foden since Nottingham Forest (H) earlier this year in March. For Savinho, it was his first since Sunderland (A) in December of last year.

Despite arriving in January, Antoine Semenyo (13) has completed more full 90s this season for Manchester City than John Stones (8), Nathan Ake (12), Rayan Ait-Nouri (11), Savinho (4), Marmoush (2), and Rico Lewis (8).

If you want to stay up-to-date on individual player minutes, back four combinations, underlying numbers, and more, check out the live Google sheet below. 👇

After his performance against Brentford, Bernardo Silva continued as the number six, this time partnered with Phil Foden. Ait-Nouri in place of Doku. Savinho on the right, and pushing Semenyo inside next to Marmoush. Josko Gvardiol, returning from injury, started as the left-back, moving into the pockets with Foden once in possession inside the opposition half.

With Foden and Silva playing together in a pivot, with how the team sets up to press the opposition in a 4-2-4, forcing them to play over the top, the job of that pivot is all about anticipating and winning second balls, after the central defenders win their aerial duels. Rather than Silva and Foden competing in the air, they’re tasked with something that suits their qualities.

Since the 24/25 season, we’ve seen Guardiola land on a consistent approach to breaking down the back fives. Two forwards attacking the space behind the wide central defenders, leaving the middle one, and trying to entice them to jump out. Two players in the pockets. Two players holding the width, pulling away the wing-backs, to open up more space. Back three to match the opposition front three in transitions, and with the six in front to dictate.

There were early chances for Palace with Pino's (12’) shot blocked, Richards (13’) header from a corner missed, and then later on Mitchel would have a shot (33’) saved. Offside transition before that. Bright from Palace, whilst a much-changed Manchester City side settled into the game and their setup.

A. Semenyo (32') 1-0
Manchester City move the ball quickly through the opposition half, into Silva, who dribbles into the final third, pulling Pino across, and laying it off to Nunes. Now with plenty of space on either side to pick out a pass.

Foden, throughout this sequence, scans for Semenyo's movement a few times. The winger initially is looking for the pass over by Nunes, but holds his run. When the pass from Silva to Nunes happens, that’s the last time Foden checks where Semenyo is. Takes a touch and then back heels the ball through for him to run onto.

Lerma closes down Nunes. Semenyo is attacking the space left as Lacroix jumps to Foden. First time shot from Semenyo, sets himself, and drives it along the ground, which caught Henderson out as he's expecting to dive across, not needing to drop down.

O. Marmoush (40') 2-0
Crystal Palace applies pressure to push City back to the halfway line. Carry by Khusanov, pulling an opposition player with him and leaving Guehi free to find Gvardiol, who's dropped back into space with Ait-Nouri pinning the wing-back.

He's then got the space to drive towards the opposition box and play the chipped pass. As that happens, Richards comes to close him down with Munoz caught covering Ait-Nouri. Lacroix comes across to pick up Semenyo. Now it's Marmoush tracked by Canvot and Foden arriving free into the box behind Lacroix.

Touch by Foden, bringing down the ball and passing it across for Marmoush, who shields the ball as it runs across his body, from Mitchell, before scoring.

Worth mentioning this initial run by Marmoush to the right as Gvardiol is carrying the ball towards the box. It pulls Canvot into the middle, opening up more space for Foden, and eventually, the time to get a touch before Canvot could try to challenge him for the ball.

There were more good opportunities to score. Guehi (7’) headed a missed shot from a corner, Ait-Nouri (20’) shot missed at the near-post arriving into the box, and Gvardiol’s header (43’) that is saved from a corner represent the better chances the team had outside the goals. Gvardiol is also reminding us, along with the deliveries Foden is capable of, of the set-piece threat we’ve been missing for a few weeks.

Doku and Ake came on for Gvardiol and Nunes (58’) early in the second half. The former had run his race for the first start back from injury, impressing with his progression, and Nunes gets spared another full ninety minutes with a Cup Final on the horizon.

In the second half, Sarr (63’) had a shot saved, Larsen (83’) missed his, and Kamada (90’+5) had his blocked. There wasn’t enough for a threat from Palace inside the City box, but there was certainly an impact made by Wharton and Sarr coming on (60’). The additional attacking running behind, and the player capable of finding him. That also prompted a rant from Guardiola at the sidelines to the players, being sloppy in possession, as we saw from Bernardo a couple of times.

Kovacic and Cherki came on for Silva and Marmoush (79’). Saving his legs ahead of the start in the final, and for Marmoush, it was job done, in place of Erling Haaland. There is talk around his future this summer, and it’s not been a good season for him, but he’s stepped up in the last two games.

There was a late penalty claim by Crystal Palace as Guehi and Donnarumma got their wires crossed, and Kamada jumped onto the loose pass, but there wasn’t anything in it from Kovacic, who closed him down, and in the end Kamada picked up a yellow for simulation.

Shortly after, John Stones came on for Phil Foden (82’) in what could be his penultimate appearance at the Etihad before leaving in the summer. Playing in midfield for the final minutes of the game.

Savinho (84') 3-0
Manchester City builds on their left side with Ake's long pass to Jeremy Doku, holding off Richards. Movement of Semenyo to drop and run ahead, pulling Lerma out of the way. Pass back to Ake, into Kovacic, and across to Guehi.

Straight out to Nunes to then find Cherki inside. Wharton comes across to challenge him, but is skipped past. Now driving Manchester City up the pitch and into the final third. Savinho holds off on making his run until they reach the box.

Delaying his run meant Savinho could get behind the defender whilst he's distracted by Cherki, whether he needs to put in a block. Played through and first time finish, side foot, into the far corner past Henderson. His first Premier League goal since Leicester City (A) on the 29th of December, 2024.

That was the goal that killed the game, and the team was looking for to build up the goal difference, should it be needed in the Premier League. Savinho could have added a fourth but missed the goal (86’) with his side going wide of the far post. Otherwise, it fizzled out with Palace having no chance to get anything from it.

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Moving Forward

Although the Premier League title rests on Arsenal dropping points, for many players, this was the performance and goals they've needed. For Semenyo and Marmoush ahead of a Cup Final, Foden is putting himself into contention, and the back four is getting another win under their belt. It’s a far more stable and consistent team than last season, and with how they started this one, you can make many changes and still see this level from them.

Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly rested. Only 11 minutes for Cherki, 32 for Doku, and 58 for Nunes. Ahead of the FA Cup Final, anything can happen, but this at least gives the team the best chance of winning.

He's still got plenty more to do, didn't create a chance tonight, but it was good to see the persistence from Savinho. 5/12 dribbles completed. Up against arguably the best defensive left-back in the PL this season. He gets his reward after a well-timed run and finish after Cherki played him in.

Marc Guehi made the most passes into the final third and progressive passes for Manchester City. 6/10 long passes completed. 3/6 ground duels won. 3/5 aerial duels won. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, it’s incredibly impressive to see how he’s performed since the mistake. It’s a painful lesson, but Guehi has been able to move on and keep delivering.

This is an updated look at the squad minutes rank and their ages compared to last season. 13/15 are U28 this season compared to 8/15 last. O'Reilly, Donnarumma, Cherki, Reijnders, Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, and Semenyo are new additions to the T15.

Nunes (12 > 3) and Doku (14 > 7) have moved significantly up within the rankings. O'Reilly (18>2), Nico (23>12), and Khusanov (24>10) have made big leaps from outside the T15 to playing key roles this season.

We’re now up to ten games started for the pairing of Guehi and Khusanov. The second most used for Manchester City this season, and still undefeated in matches started together. Regardless of how the season ends, there is no doubt that every review will look back on the injuries to Gvardiol and Dias as a key point.

It’s also a nod to the important role Khusanov has played across the season; he’s part of three of the top five most-used pairings. Whether it’s in the Cup games with Nathan Ake, those initial games after the double injury partnering Alleyne, or the partnership this recent unbeaten run is built on with Guehi. His qualities defending the space behind have allowed the team to push further up the pitch.

Next up for Manchester City is the FA Cup Final against Chelsea this weekend. In the last two, the team has lost Manchester United (23/24) and Crystal Palace (24/25), after the Treble win. This makes four consecutive final appearances, a great stat to highlight, but it can quickly turn into a bad one if it’s three consecutive final defeats. That is what complacency will bring them on the weekend.

Chelsea has lost their last three FA Cup Finals, and could make it four. Have not beaten Manchester City since the 20/21 CL Final. Wherever you look, there is a stat to have you excited and concerned.

Against Liverpool last weekend, Chelsea were able to pick up a draw and stop their losing run in the Premier League. Levi Colwill returned to the lineup, and Reece James is expected to push for minutes in the final. Despite the state the club is in, Manchester City cannot sleep on the quality Chelsea can show in a one-off game.

There will be plenty of interest around the selection and setup for both teams. McFarlane earned Chelsea a point in the Etihad game last January. Incredibly passive in the first half, and aggressive in the second. Perhaps not what Guardiola expected in the Premier League, but he’ll be prepared this time around.