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 12:31 · Joe Miles]

KICK OFF

City kick off to get the action under way. Game on!

[6 May 2017 12:35 · Joe Miles]

2 MINS

GOAL

MANCHESTER CITY 1 - 0 CRYSTAL PALACE

Silva opens the scoring for City in under two minutes here at the Etihad. Sterling sends the ball into the box from the left, but it's only headed out as far as Silva, who slots it past Hennessey from inside of the area. 

[6 May 2017 12:36 · Joe Miles]

5 MINS

Allardyce's men have a mountain to climb already here, with City looking energetic and determined. The home side are controlling possession effortlessly, at the moment.

[6 May 2017 12:37 · Joe Miles]

7 MINS

Zaha goes down inside of the City area following a collision with Toure. The referee does not see enough intention there to point for the penalty - play on. 

[6 May 2017 12:39 · Joe Miles]

8 MINS

Sterling puts Silva through, he cuts it back into the box and all Milivojevic can do is send the ball into row Z. Corner kick to City. 

[6 May 2017 12:41 · Joe Miles]

10 MINS

Toure knocks the ball onto Fernandinho, who looks up and goes for goal from around 30 yards. It's an ambitious effort, but it is easily collected by the hands of Hennessey. 

[6 May 2017 12:42 · Joe Miles]

11 MINS

City have controlled 79% of possession so far, with Palace seeing very little of the action. 

[6 May 2017 12:44 · Joe Miles]

13 MINS

Kompany steals possession from Benteke and cleverly pings a ball over the top to put Sterling through on goal, but the offside flag is raised. 

[6 May 2017 12:48 · Joe Miles]

16 MINS

The Crystal Palace side are chasing shadows at the moment, with City knocking the ball about effortlessly. 

Sane finds Fernandinho, who looks up and attempts to deliver a ball across the face of goal. Kelly manages to come across and sweep away the danger. 

[6 May 2017 12:49 · Joe Miles]

18 MINS

Jesus makes the most a defensive lapse from Palace and he bursts through on goal, but Allardyce's men track back in numbers and manage to redeem possession.