Erling Haaland scored twice to help Manchester City dispatch Crystal Palace and maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

City would have been eyeing top spot on Saturday night when Wolves grabbed a late equaliser at Arsenal but Yerson Mosquera’s injury-time own goal provided Mikel Arteta’s men with much-needed relief.

City did their job in the capital but did not have it all their own way as Palace carved out the best opportunity early on – Yeremy Pino breaking the offside trap from Adam Wharton’s dinked pass but only managing to strike the crossbar when one-on-one with Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The hosts were creating chances without being able to apply the finishing touch and that lack of cutting edge proved costly as Matheus Nunes swung in a cross to the back post for Haaland to thump home a header four minutes before half-time.

England international Wharton has not scored for Palace since joining from Blackburn in February 2024 but came close to breaking his duck at the start of the second period when a rasping strike rattled the foot of the post.

Tijjani Reijnders’ low drive was kept out by Dean Henderson before Phil Foden drove home a delightful finish and Haaland added a third late on from the penalty spot after Savinho was brought down by the Palace goalkeeper.

Reducing the gap at the top to two points again, City are showing they are likely to push the Gunners all the way.

Pep Guardiola’s side – top scorers in the division this season with 37 goals – have now won their last four league games by netting at least three times in each.

They owe much of that to having the ruthless Haaland at their disposal.

The Norway international scored the winning goal in the magnificent Champions League victory at Real Madrid on Wednesday and helped City on their way to all the points in London.

The 25-year-old was on the periphery of the game, as he so often is, but only needed a sniff – on 41 minutes burying Nunes’ cross and adding a penalty late on to take his tally to 17 in the league this season.

Foden is another player in excellent form and his fine finish was his sixth goal in his last five games in all competitions, serving as another reminder of his capabilities to England boss Thomas Tuchel who was watching on.

Crystal Palace analysis: Winless home run against Man City extends to 11

Palace will be left rueing the openings they had against City as they struck the woodwork twice but were ultimately well beaten at home.

Pino should really have done better with his gilt-edged chance in the first half and scoring that would have given the game a different complexion.

Wharton impressed in the middle of the park for Oliver Glasner’s side with no player winning more tackles than his four, but he hit the post and screwed two presentable opportunities off target.

Palace have made their best start of a Premier League season and although this setback keeps them in fifth place, they are now winless in their last 11 home league games against City, a run that stretches back a decade.

What’s next for these two sides?

Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner’s men are in Europa Conference League action on Thursday, hosting Finnish side KuPS (20:00 GMT).

Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s side are in Carabao Cup action on Wednesday, hosting Brentford in the quarter-finals (19:30 GMT). (BBC)

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