Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City [drew 2-all](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/crystal-palace-v-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report-2-63869177) with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The game was anction-packed affair, and the talking points started before the game began. Manuel Akanji [wasn’t selected](https://esteemedkompany.com/2024/12/07/the-starting-lineups-are-in-ahead-of-manchester-citys-match-against-crystal-palace/) in City’s squad after picking up an injury against Nottingham Forest. That was a blow for Pep Guardiola’s side.
#### First half
Crystal Palace began the game full of energy and they took the lead in the fourth minute through Daniel Muñoz. A sumptuous ball from Will Hughes split the City defence and Muñoz did the rest. Kyle Walker played Muñoz onside in the build-up in the worst possible start for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City should have been level three minutes later. A beautiful ball from Kevin De Bruyne played in Erling Haaland but his shot was well saved by Dean Henderson in the Palace goal.
From there Crystal Palace were the more lively of the two teams. Although there weren’t any chances of note besides an Ismaila Sarr strike from a corner that went miles over the bar in the 19th minute. But the hosts were buoyed by their early goal.
Ilkay Gundogan then struck the post in the 22nd minute with a well-struck volley. From the resulting rebound, Savinho curled an effort wide of the post from a good position.
In the 28th minute, Rico Lewis was disposed in a dangerous area of the pitch, and a well-worked move saw Jean-Philippe Mateta set up Jefferson Lerma. But his shot was well blocked by Ruben Dias in the penalty area.
Manchester City equalised two minutes later through Erling Haaland. A sublime ball from Matheus Nunes saw Haaland power a header home to make it 1-all. But questions will be asked of Dean Henderson in the Palace goal and his positioning.
In the 42nd minute, Savinho fired over from just outside the box after a sweeping City counterattack. But Pep Guardiola’s side were beginning to work their way on top of the contest.
The remainder of the half saw both teams have their moments but the game went to halftime delicately poised at 1-all.
#### Second half
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw Manchester City dominate possession. They had the hosts pinned back but the only threat Palace provided was through City’s own sloppiness in possession. It was exactly that which caused the corner that saw Crystal Palace regain the lead. A sloppy Bernardo Silva pass saw Will Hughes have a shot that was blocked behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner in the 55th minute which was delivered by Will Hughes, Maxence Lacroix headed Crystal Palace back into the lead. He overpowered Kyle Walker to power a header past Stefan Ortega. Manchester City were kicking themselves for the concession of such a soft goal.
From there, Manchester City dominated possession, but the threat was always there of Crystal Palace counterattack.
That was the pattern of the game until a well-worked Manchester City move saw Rico Lewis equalise in the 68th minute. It was a beautiful flowing move from Pep Guardiola’s side and Bernardo Silva’s ball to play in Rico Lewis was sublime.
From there, Manchester City went up a gear, and their next chance fell to Savinho. Another beautifully worked move saw Bernardo Silva tee up the Brazilian international. But his shot was deflected and Dean Henderson made a superb save to prevent City from taking the lead.
Manchester City had all the play after their equaliser until Rico Lewis received a second yellow card for a challenge on Trevoh Chalobah in the 84th minute. On second viewing Lewis could feel harshly done by as Chalobah landed on him rather than the other way around.
Crystal Palace pushed forward after Lewis’ red card, trying to find a winner in the game’s dying stages. But after a series of corners that City defended well and with Jeremy Doku looking set to burst free from the final one of those corners the final whistle blew. All told, it was an entertaining game and you have to admire Manchester City’s fight to get back into the game with such a depleted lineup.
Here are the City player ratings from Selhurst Park as Pep Guardiola’s side left Selhurst Park whard-earnedearned point.
#### City player ratings
**Stefan Ortega-6/10:** Could do little about either of Palace’s goals but didn’t have a busy afternoon in goal.
**Kyle Walker-4/10:** Was at fault for both of Crystal Palace’s goals. Another poor display from Walker although he did make one crucial intervention late on.
**Ruben Dias-9/10:** City’s man-of-the-match by far. His blocks kept City in the game and he was outstanding all game.
**Josko Gvardiol-7.5/10:** Looked much better playing at centre-back. A polished performance from the Croatian.
**Rico Lewis-6/10:** Scored City’s equaliser and was harshly sent off. At, times he was bullied in midfield and on other occasions, he played well.
**Ilkay Gundogan-8/10:** His best game since returning to the club in my opinion. I thought he was superb.
**Bernardo Silva-6.5/10:** His poor pass led to Crystal Palace’s corner where where they restored their lead. After that he was brilliant and his assist for Lewis’ goal was superb.
**Kevin De Bruyne-7/10:** De Bruyne wasn’t as impactful as he was against Nottingham Forest but he was a constant threat to the hosts. He well and truly looks over his injury issues.
**Savinho-6/10:** He had moments to make an impact but his finishing was lacking. Not City’s worst player on the day.
**Matheus Nunes-8/10:** A constant threat and his assist for Haaland’s goal was sublime. He slotted in at right-back after Lewis’ dismissal and did well there as well.
**Erling Haaland-7.5/10:** Scored one and perhaps should’ve had two. But he never stopped fighting up front to his credit.
#### Substitutes
**Jeremy Doku- 6/10:** Had moments but didn’t see enough of the ball late on.
**Jack Grealish- N/A:** Not on long enough to mark.