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Manchester City had found their feet back after series of positive results and for this tie with Crystal Palace, they didn't struggle for goals. They created all the best chance possible and Palace thought they could at least force a draw from City with the flashes of their own brilliance too.
The truth is, Ayew led the line in the absence of Zaha. Zaha has been Palace's main man for a long time now and early in the season when he was out, they struggled with results and the moment he came back, they started getting the results. Ayew did well but Zaha was obviously missed against City and that is not to say City might now win but the threats from him would have caused City some troubles.
Kevin De Bruyne has been instrumental to City's success and he showed that again on the night with an outside foot assist to Stones who scored with a brilliant header in the 26th minute to give City the lead. That was the first time Stones has ever scored for City in the Premier League and his 2ns goal overall in 172 appearances. That was 100 assists for De Bruyne, who now enters into the top 10 greatest Assists for the Premier League. He has 30 assists more than the nearest person to him and he made his debut only in 2015.
Silva was considered to be one of the greatest for City but his assists are nowhere near De Bruyne's numbers.
Gundogan fought back to hold on to the ball in the 56th minute and he expertly unleashed his effort that went straight to the back of the net to make it 2-0 for City. Palace had no answers as City raced to this 2 goals advantage. Gundogan's influence has grown and now he has 4 goals in the last 6 games for City.
Gabriel Jesus closed down Palace's goalkeeper; Guaita and could have scored the third easily there but the goalkeeper quickly sorted out himself and cleared it.
Kevin also tried to bend in his effort in the 62nd minute only to go wide but John Stones stepped up again in the 68th minute when an initial header was saved and the ball fell graciously to him in the box. He smashed the effort and put City ahead by 3 goals. Stones has been impressive for City particular at the back and one of the major reasons why they bounced back and could hold on to their slender leads when they were struggling for goals upfront. This is also the first time he would be scoring two goals in a match for City. He is chipping in his tally to his team's quest for a title push.
Crystal Palace still awaiting their first shot on target even till the 70th minute and they had a penalty shout in the 76th minute when Jordan Ayew went down but it was a good experience from Fernandinho to snatch the ball off his feet.
Sterling had a brilliant freekick in the 88th minute but it couldn't add to the scoreline but the 3-0 was enough for City to move into the second place while displacing Leicester by goal difference. Liverpool has been pushed back to 4th place with City's win and Spurs down to 5th
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