Manchester City moved level on points with Liverpool at the Premier League summit by fighting back to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring two wonderful goals.

Palace threatened an upset when Jean-Philippe Mateta gave them a third-minute lead, but De Bruyne's stunning strike had City level 10 minutes later.

And Man City, who now only trail Liverpool on goal difference ahead of the Reds’ clash with Manchester United on Sunday, took the game away from their hosts after the break – Rico Lewis putting them ahead before De Bruyne took centre stage, teeing up Erling Haaland for a tap-in before rifling in his second of the game, bringing up his 100th goal for the club in the process.

Another goal for City would have sent them, temporarily at least, top of the standings, though Odsonne Edouard ensured Palace – who remain 14th – had the final say.

How the match unfolded

It was a rare John Stones giveaway that led to Palace's early opener, allowing Adam Wharton to release Mateta, who fired off the base of the left post and in.

Dean Henderson then denied Julian Alvarez and Rodri before De Bruyne dragged City level in emphatic fashion. Receiving possession on the left side of the area, De Bruyne opened up his body to bend a superb effort into the top-right corner.

Another Henderson save kept the scores level as he smothered Haaland's effort following more good work from De Bruyne, but Palace went close at the other end as Jordan Ayew rattled the crossbar.

City made that reprieve count 93 seconds into the second half. Joachim Andersen could only head Jack Grealish's cross as far as Lewis, whose shot deflected off Jefferson Lerma and in.

The champions had a third after 66 minutes as De Bruyne got to the byline to cut the ball back for Haaland, who tapped home for his 19th league goal of 2023-24.

De Bruyne settled the contest four minutes later with a sensational first-time finish from Rodri’s lay-off, ensuring Edouard’s neat finish from Jeffrey Schlupp’s left-wing cross proved nothing more than a consolation for Palace as City applied the pressure to Liverpool and Arsenal in the title race.

Having joined Haaland as an unused substitute for Wednesday's 4-1 rout of Aston Villa, De Bruyne was restored to Pep Guardiola's starting line-up here as the in-form Phil Foden made way.

The Belgian looked reinvigorated by his rest, bringing up 100 goals for City on his 372nd appearance for them across all competitions, eight years and 200 days after netting his first goal for them against West Ham in September 2015.

The City playmaker now has 16 goal involvements across all competitions in 2024 (four goals, 12 assists), with De Bruyne’s former team-mate Cole Palmer (17) the only Premier League player with more. 

Something to build on for Glasner?

Despite an encouraging start, Palace saw their winless streak stretch to five Premier League games, failing to hold onto their early lead as De Bruyne took control.

While the Eagles' defending won't have impressed Oliver Glasner, there were positives for him to take from their attacking display as Mateta, Ayew and Edouard troubled City on the break.

Palace managed just three shots totalling 0.19 expected goals (xG) in their midweek defeat to Bournemouth, their lowest respective figures in any Premier League game this season. On Saturday, however, there were signs of Glasner's methods beginning to bear fruit.  

Club reports

Palace report | Man City report

Match officials 

Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Mat Wilkes. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.