Sterling double sends City top

Manchester City will return to the top of the Premier League for a few hours at least as they come away from Selhurst Park with a 3-1 win and a much deserved three points.

Goals from man of the match Raheem Sterling and late substitute Gabriel Jesus were enough to get the job done for City in an overall terrific display against a tough Palace side.

City knew how important todays game was after dropping points here last season, and they shoed they were up to the fight with early pressure. In truth, it was all City in the opening 45 minutes in South London.

Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan were the the preferred midfield choice for Pep Guardiola and all three were pulling the strings from early on in the game. Some lovely combinations between the midfield, Sergio Aguero and the two Blues wingers were troubling a rigid Palace back-line and in the tenth minute was the first real chance of the game.

Some lovely play from Leroy Sane down the left resulted in the German playing a ball across the box and into the path of Sterling, who’s left footed effort went narrowly wide of the seemingly open goal in front of him. It really was a terrible miss but Sterling only seemed buoyed by this when he struck for the opening goal five minutes later.

Kevin de Bruyne got on to a loose ball deep in the City half and drove with it before releasing Sterling down the right with a perfectly weighted through ball. Sterling took it in his stride and finished superbly into the top of the net to give City a much needed lead.

City dominated the remainder of the half and also large spells of the second period and it was Sterling again who would come up with the good to snatch his second of the day. Ederson pinged a long ball out to Sterling, who worked it back into midfield, the ball was then played out wide to Aguero who whipped it across the box into the path of the onrushing Sterling, who guided it into the left hand bottom corner with the deftest of touches to give City a 2-0 lead.

The visitors began to play keep ball for a large amount of the thirty minutes remaining but there was to be a late scare when on 81 minutes Lica Milivojevic bent a low free-kick past Ederson into the left hand side of the net. Perhaps the keeper should of done better on this one but the champions wouldn’t be denied.

Gabriel Jesus who was a late sub to the game was freed in by the counter attacking the De Bruyne and he calmly slotted it home to give the Blues all three points.

City will now be keeping an eye on Anfield were Liverpool play host to Chelsea this afternoon however the job remains the same for City. Win your five remaining games, and you will be Champions once more.