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 12:51 · Joe Miles]

19 MINS

Sane charges across the edge of the box, before firing a left-footed attempt on goal. Well, when I say on goal...I think it cleared the Etihad. Certainly room for improvement there for the 21-year-old. 

[6 May 2017 12:53 · Joe Miles]

22 MINS

Sterling sprints into the box and pulls the ball back behind the full-back into the path of Jesus, but Kelly manages to intercept and sweep the ball away. 

[6 May 2017 12:57 · Joe Miles]

25 MINS

Jesus picks up possession following a corner kick, he skips past Schlupp effortlessly but to the relief of the visiting fans, he runs the ball out of play.

[6 May 2017 12:59 · Joe Miles]

28 MINS

Sterling sends Sane through on goal, but the 21-year-old overcooks his touch and the ball flies out of play. City are dominating, but they need to be more clinical in the final third. 

[6 May 2017 13:01 · Joe Miles]

30 MINS

Silva skips past a sea of Palace shirts, before sending an imposing ball through to Jesus. The striker takes the shot first time, but it is a routine save for Hennessey. 

[6 May 2017 13:03 · Joe Miles]

32 MINS

Following a set piece from Palace, the City side charge up the field with a menacing counter attack. Sane leads the move and fires a powerful strike that forces an athletic save from Hennessey. The rebound falls into the path of Jesus, who strikes yet another rocket at goal, but it's stopped on the line. 

[6 May 2017 13:04 · Joe Miles]

34 MINS

Yellow card: Kompany receives the first booking of the fixture following a late challenge on Zaha.

[6 May 2017 13:07 · Joe Miles]

35 MINS

Hennessey stops yet another sublime strike from Sane from a wide angle, following an imposing through ball from De Bruyne. The Eagles keeper certainly has his hands full this afternoon. 

[6 May 2017 13:09 · Joe Miles]

38 MINS

Silva finds himself inside of the area with a handful of options surrounding him, but it appears that their is too much choice and he sends possession straight into the hands of Hennessey. Poor decision from City's best player, so far. 

[6 May 2017 13:11 · Joe Miles]

40 MINS

Schlupp hacks at the legs of De Bruyne, giving City an unnecessary free kick from a wide angle. The frustration of the Palace side is evident here at the Etihad Stadium.