Manchester City vs Crystal Palace live: Vincent Kompany's vicious finish epitomises City's mauling of Eagles

Follow the latest from the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium

David Silva celebrates putting Manchester City ahead inside two minutes (Getty)

Manchester City have moved up to third in the Premier League after thrashing Crystal Palace 5-0 at the Etihad, leaping ahead of Liverpool on goal difference in the battle for Champions League football next season. Re-live all the action here.

• Manchester City 5-0 Crystal Palace
• David Silva opens the scoring inside two minutes
• Vincent Kompany doubles the score three minutes after half-time
• Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling add second-half goals
• Nicolas Otamendi scores the fifth in injury-time
• Teams:
• Manchester City: Cabellero; Fernandinho, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure; Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane; Gabriel Jesus. Subs: Gunn, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolaroc, Nacas, Iheanacho.
• Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Van Aanholt, Schlupp;` Milivojevic, Puncheon, McArthur; Zaha, Townsend, Benteke. Subs: Speroni, Delaney, Flamini, Lee, Sako, Remy, Campbell.

Follow the live action below...

Preview...

Pep Guardiola’s side are 4th and a win by a margin of two goals would lift them above 3rd placed Liverpool, who do not play until Sunday, on goal difference.

For all of City’s flare and ability, however, their opponents this weekend are a well-drilled outfit buoyed since the arrival of Premier League specialist Sam Allardyce.

The Eagles are resurgent under their boss and have lifted themselves to 16th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone, having looked a certainty for relegation in February after a 0-4 home loss to Sunderland.

They have got their talented squad performing closer to what you would expect from a side which boasts talents such as Wilfried Zaha, Mamadou Sakho and Christian Benteke to name a few, and can be a danger to the best defences on their day.

What time does it start?

The match kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday 6 May.

Where can I watch it?

It will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 from 11.30am.

Highlights will be shown on BBC1 at 10.20pm.

Preview

After being eliminated from the FA Cup in the semi-final loss at the hands of Arsenal, Manchester City can focus all of their energy into securing a top four place. The need for reinforcements over the summer is clear; they have an ageing squad and a manager who hopes to bring in players who fit in with his strict philosophy, which makes finishing in the Champions League places all the more important.

In terms of team news, it is expected that Scott Dann and James Tomkins will join Mamadou Sakho as Crystal Palace’s absentees, while Yohan Cabaye will be welcomed back after his recent rest. Manchester City were without John Stones and David Silva for their trip to the Riverside in the last round of fixtures and it is uncertain whether either will make it for the visit of Palace. Fabian Delph, who did feature against Middlesborough, picked up an injury in that game and may miss out as a result. Like their visitors, City will be boosted by the return of a fresh player rested in their last game, in this case in the form of Yaya Toure.

The Citizens will be hoping to kick off their favourable final four games with three points which would leave them in good stead for a strong end to the season. Crystal Palace have a good recent record against top six opponents, beating Arsenal and Tottenham in April, and will be keen to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time since February.

It’s a big game for…

Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian is likely to partner Aguero up front and will be eager to show City what they have missed during his time out injured. He has made a blistering start to his career in England, scoring four goals in six league appearances, which is exactly the sort of form which lead Guardiola to suggest that his team would be higher placed in the league if they did not have to wait until January to sign Jesus. He will be hoping to add to his tally in the absence of Palace’s first choice centre backs.

Best stat

Crystal Palace have beaten Manchester City just once in all competitions since 2001/02: a 2-1 League victory in April 2015. City have won every other meeting in that period.

Player to watch…

Wilfried Zaha: The Ivorian international has been in scintillating form of late, prompting speculation of a big money move to Tottenham in the summer. He has rediscovered his direct, skilful style which convinced Sir Alex Ferguson to make Zaha his last ever signing as Manchester United manager and has been vital in Palace’s upturn in fortunes since Allardyce arrived at the helm. If he can get at City’s ropey fullbacks, likely to be Zabaleta and Clichy, he could inflict serious damage.

Past three meetings

Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 3
FA Cup, January 2017

Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 2
Premier League, November 2016

Manchester City 4 Crystal Palace 0
Premier League, January 2016

Form guide

Manchester City: DDLWW

Crystal Palace: LLWDW

Odds

Provided by 888 Sport

Manchester City to win: 1/4

Crystal Palace to win: 19/2

Draw: 23/4

[6 May 2017 11:26 · Jack de Menezes]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League action, kicking off with the clash at the Etihad Stadium between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.

[6 May 2017 11:30 · Joe Miles]

 Team news: 

[6 May 2017 11:37 · Joe Miles]

The absence of Sergio Aguero and David Silva will provide a much needed boost for Sam Allardyce's side, who are still yet to secure top flight football for next season. 

The Argentinian striker is carrying a groin injury, while Silva is back in training but still unavailable. 

[6 May 2017 11:39 · Joe Miles]

The notion of a ‘39th game’ was roundly and rightly panned when it first surfaced nine years ago, but as anyone up to speed on their Premier League rules and regulations knows, provisions already exist for top-flight clubs to squeeze an extra fixture in. 

[6 May 2017 11:41 · Joe Miles]

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed his delight at warding off interest from the “big clubs” to sign Gabriel Jesus, and claimed that there are parallels between the youngster's sudden impact in the Premier League and Lionel Messi’s breakthrough at Barcelona. 

[6 May 2017 11:46 · Joe Miles]

City have been banned by the Premier League from signing youth players for two years and fined £300,000 for ‘tapping up’ two teenage players in breach of league rules. City were found by the Premier League to have approached two young players while they were registered with other clubs. 

[6 May 2017 11:58 · Joe Miles]

City have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Palace, but this fixture will certainly be the most important of the bunch. However, with speculation surrounding the safety of the Eagle's - this certainly will not be a walk in the park for Guardiola's men. 

The visitors have earned 19 points from the last 10 league fixtures, which is two more than City in as many games. Allardyce's men have built themselves an impressive reputation against the 'bigger' clubs, with away wins against both Arsenal and Liverpool this season. 

Kick off at 12:30.

Stay tuned for minute-by-minute coverage of the action live from the Etihad Stadium.

[6 May 2017 12:13 · Joe Miles]

It will be a huge relief for the Palace fans to see Andros Townsend named in the starting XI. The 25-year-old was believed to have been suffering with an achilles injury, but he appears to have recovered and earned his position back in the starting line-up. 

With just three goals and four assists so far this season, there is room for improvement, but he has certain proved pivotal to the success of Palace. Following a shaky start at Selhurst Park, he was quickly linked with a move to Newcastle. 

However, he began to find his feet and impress the fans with his relentless work rate and menacing approach going forward. He will be a key element to the Palace side today, but has he got what it takes to break down the substantial City defence? We'll see.

[6 May 2017 12:13 · Joe Miles]

What will be the outcome of today's fixture at the Etihad Stadium?

[6 May 2017 12:27 · Joe Miles]

The two clubs begin to march out onto the pitch. A win today for Palace will secure their safety, while a win for City will surely secure a top-four finish.

Just minutes until kick off, stay tuned for live coverage of all of the action.