Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

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·18 January 2020

Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Manchester City were left with just a point at the Etihad Stadium as Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace came away with a late draw. Here’s how we rated the players from an embarrassing performance…

Ederson – 6

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Could do nothing about Tosun’s goal but then was fortunate not to concede another after rushing out of his box. Quietest player on the pitch.

Joao Cancelo – 5

Still doesn’t look the most confident defensively. Kyle Walker’s not perfect at the back either, but in a different way – he’s more physically sound but error-prone. Cancelo’s attacking potential is obvious, though.

John Stones – 3

I’m willing to let the penalty he almost conceded slide, as it’s a matter of opinion whether it was his fault or not. However, I can’t look past Stones getting easily outjumped by Cahill from a corner, or his positioning for the Tosun goal that was pulled back for a foul, or how easily he let Zaha breeze past him. A really poor overall performance.

At the risk of pushing an agenda, because his name’s not Otamendi nobody will criticise him for costing us another match. But all of Palace’s best attacking moments involved Stones’s mistakes.

Fernandinho – 5

Was the better of our centre-backs and did well to win the free-kick that stopped Tosun making it 2-0; but then scored the own goal to cost us two points late on. Unfortunate.

Benjamin Mendy – 7 (MOTM)

One of our most potent attacking threats throughout. Mendy looks close to his best form once again with some intelligent crosses and great physical play. He was probably my highlight of the game even before he assisted what we thought was an Agüero winner.

Ilkay Gundogan – 6

Was fine. Usually the benefit of playing Gundogan over Rodri is that the German offers more of an attacking threat, but he never really got going today.

David Silva – 5

Felt unusually flat from Silva today, and it was the kind of performance that reminds you he’s moving on in a few months. If Foden is to be the heir to our best ever player, it might be wiser to give the young Englishman some minutes.

Kevin De Bruyne – 6

Genuinely looked as if he could make something happen for much of the game, unlucky not to score from a free kick. Just wasn’t his day.

Raheem Sterling – 5

Been in poor form for far too long now and the indication is we probably could have started Jesus on the left instead. Hopefully Raheem turns it around soon.

Bernardo Silva – 5

Like with Sterling, I’m not sure why he started this game while players in far better form were left on the bench to rot. We all know Bernardo isn’t effective on the wing and this was the same old story. Didn’t offer much at all.

Sergio Agüero – 7

Came alive at the end of the match to score his 250th Manchester City goal at the far post, setting up a tense finale that saw him snatch what looked like it would be an unlikely victory. Both finishes were classic Agüero, the first a poacher’s goal at the back stick and the second a free header after finding some good space.