Manchester City delivered a dominant performance in Premier League Round 16, comfortably beating Crystal Palace 3–0 to keep the heat on league leaders Arsenal.

The visitors were in control from the outset, but the breakthrough came just before the break. Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 45th minute, rising high to meet a cross from Julian Álvarez and guiding the ball into the far corner with a precise header.

After the interval, Manchester City doubled their lead in the 69th minute. A quick interception in midfield allowed Ryan Cherki to feed Phil Foden, who coolly slotted the ball past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson from outside the box.

It was a one-sided affair, but the final blow came in the dying moments of the match. Two Crystal Palace defenders collided as they tried to track Matheus Savinho, who broke free from his own half. The resulting foul led to a penalty, which Erling Haaland calmly converted, completing the 3–0 demolition.

With the win, Manchester City remain hot on the heels of Arsenal, just two points behind the leaders, ensuring the title race remains fiercely competitive.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Crystal Palace - Manchester City 0:3 (0:1)
Goals: Håland E., 41 (0:1); Foden, 69 (0:2); Håland E., 88 (0:3)

Crystal Palace: Henderson D.; Mitchell T.; Lacroix M.; Guehi; Clyne (Uche, 77); Richards Chr.; Sarr Is.; Pino Y.; Wharton A.; Kamada (Hughes W., 67); Mateta (Nketiah, 63)
Substitution: Nketiah (from 63); Hughes W. (from 67); Uche (from 77)
Bench: Benitez W.; Canvot; Sosa B.; Lerma; Devenny; Esse
Yellow Cards: Kamada 63

Manchester City: Donnarumma G.; Dias R.; Gvardiol; Reijnders (Sávio Moreira, 85); Nico González; Bernardo Silva (Lewis R., 91); Matheus Nunes; Foden; Cherki; O'Reilly (Aït-Nouri, 91); Håland E. (Marmoush, 91)
Substitution: Sávio Moreira (from 85); Aït-Nouri (from 91); Lewis R. (from 91); Marmoush (from 91)
Bench: Trafford; Ake; Khusanov; Bobb; Mukasa