PEP WHO?! Cherki runs the show as new-look Man City thump Palace to continue perfect start - 5 talking points

A Rayan Cherki-inspired Manchester City secured a 4-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to extend their perfect start to the season.

After surviving a bright start from the hosts, City took the lead through Erling Haaland. Cherki then doubled their lead with a brilliant individual goal after the break.

Palace found themselves a foothold moments later as Yeremy Pino's free-kick found the net via a touch off of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But Cherki was not done as he hammered home a brilliant second. Haaland then also doubled his evening's work late on.

City's victory in London leaves new boss Enzo Maresca with a 100 per cent record after two Premier League matches at the helm, while Pierre Sage remains without a point as Palace manager. Here are all of the talking points from Selhurst Park.

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After failing to find the net on the opening day for the first time in his Premier League career, there was no way that Haaland was not scoring at Selhurst Park. After all, the Norwegian sensation had netted at Selhurst Park on every single appearance.

His first goal was very much trademark Haaland, too. Semenyo whipped a brilliant ball into the penalty area, with the striker having escaped his marker to nod a brilliant effort into the back of the net.

Haaland was then on hand late on to latch onto Foden's clever pass and thump a thunderous effort past Dean Henderson.

With three Premier League golden boots to his name, his fight to secure a fourth is well and truly underway.

City should have been at least 3-0 up come the break but former PFA Player of the Year, Phil Foden, was guilty of missing some more than presentable opportunities.

His first chance came after being picked out by Elliot Anderson, with pretty much the whole goal to aim att but curled his effort high over the crossbar.

His second opportunity came at the end of a flowing move, which saw Nico O'Reilly and Cherki combine. The latter picked out Foden with a brilliant cross but somehow the England man got his header horribly wrong.

Despite that, he still managed to rack up two assists on what was still a productive outing for him.

While Foden struggled in front of goal, he was on hand to tee-up Cherki for what looks to be one of the goals of the season already.

Foden drove into the box and picked out the French playmaker, who showed great feet to dance around three Palace bodies. Just as he looked like he was about to be crowded out, he poked the ball into the far corner with the outside of his foot.

The Frenchman was on the scoresheet again with a stunning drive that flew into the top corner. After his standout debut season in the Premier League, it looks like Cherki is set to be even better this time around.

Just minutes after City extended their lead, the home side dragged them back as they cut the deficit.

Anderson was somewhat unfortunate to give away a free kick on the edge of the area, which Pino claimed. The Spaniard's effort was precise enough to strike the ball, drop onto the back of City goalkeeper Donnarumma and into the back of the net.

Pino scored just twice in the Premier League last season following a move from Villarreal so will be hoping to improve on those numbers.

It's fair to say that Pierre Sage will have been keen to swap his results for Maresca's. The Frenchman has not had the best start to life at Palace, having lost each of his opening two games.

It's not quite a crisis yet - the Eagles did show some promising signs against City despite the scoreline. But Sage will be hoping to get his first victory sooner rather than later or Palace could find themselves nervously looking over their shoulder.

Maresca in the meantime has won each of his matches as City boss. They don't quite look at their very best quite yet - which is a scary prospect given their display at Selhurst Park - but the results are positive which is all that matters at this stage.

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