The exclusion of Yaya Toure from Pep Guardiola’s plans has been a talking point so far this season. The Spanish manager famously didn’t like him at Barcelona also and sold the big midfielder. But it looks like he has played his way back into the first-team picture, and showed Guardiola what he had been missing with two goals in a MOTM performance to give City a late win against Palace.
We look at how the Manchester City team performed.
Claudio Bravo – 5
One of the main reasons that the Manchester City keeper was brought in was his ability with the ball at his feet, and you have to question that decision on days like this. He gave the ball away regularly as City looked to build from the back, and he also did poorly with the Crystal Palace goal.
Bacary Sagna – 7
The right back had a good game and was one of the best City players in a game where they had to defend resolutely for spells. Moved inside to centre-half when Vincent Kompany went off with yet another injury early in the game.
Vincent Kompany – 6
You have to wonder whether the Manchester City captain will ever stay fit and get a run of games. This time he hurt himself in a collision with the City keeper and was unfit to continue.
Nicolas Otamendi – 6
With Vincent Kompany off the pitch injured it was down to him to take control of the City back line and deal with the aerial threat of Wickham and Benteke. Never completely fills you with confidence though and can be guilty of some rash moments.
Aleksandar Kolarov – 5
The Serbian international left back had a day to forget, as he struggled to cope with the pace and trickery of Zaha, and when he tried to get forward he had many misplaced passes and just didn’t get into his stride.
Fernandinho – 8
One of the players that has grown further still under Guardiola and he showed his importance again, mopping up in midfield and really holding the team together. If it wasn’t for the magnificent performance of Toure, he would certainly have been MOTM.
Raheem Sterling – 6
It was a performance that was probably more typical of the Sterling of old. He showed a great threat with his pace and dribbling ability which put the Palace defence on the back foot at times but his end product was lacking.
Yaya Toure – 9
Looked like a man on a mission to prove people wrong, and prove people wrong he did. It was a masterclass of passing in the centre of the pitch, and to top it off with two goals, you really couldn’t have asked for any more. One performance that almost guaranteed a return to the team, it’s impossible to freeze somebody out when they perform like this.
Kevin De Bruyne – 7
The Belgian is used to being the main man, the focal point in midfield which all of the City play runs through, so perhaps he had some of the shine taken off of him by Toure. But he still worked hard and contributed to the win.
Nolito – 6
Didn’t really get into the game which is more the fault of the rest of the City team for leaving him isolated. But did produce a good moment to set Toure up for one of his goals.
Sergio Aguero – 5
It is unclear what has happened to the little Argentinian recently. He started the season well but he continued a recent run of bad form which inevitably saw him subbed. He doesn’t look to be fit.