EPL: Man City smash Palace 3-0 to fire title warning

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park in south London on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

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Manchester City thumped Crystal Palace 3-0 on Sunday to move back to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Aston Villa kept up their title charge.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest demolished struggling Tottenham 3-0, while Sunderland saw off local rivals Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a Nick Woltemade own goal.

Arsenal, who have set the pace this season, squeaked home on Saturday with a 2-1 win against bottom-club Wolves, thanks to two own goals.

That put the pressure back on City, who have been showing ominous signs that they are finding their feet in recent weeks.

Pep Guardiola’s men braced for a tough task at Selhurst Park against high-flying Palace and had to withstand pressure from the home side.

But they were clinical, with two goals from the ruthless Erling Haaland and one from Phil Foden.

“It is a really tough place to come,” City boss Guardiola told Sky Sports. “When you lose the ball, they attack incredibly well, but we were patient.

“We were lucky when they hit the post from (Adam) Wharton, but really pleased for the performance and victory to grow our mentality.”

He added: “Erling is a forward to score the goals, but in the second half, he keeps the ball. He was able to contain situations. He helped us be together. In the second half, he was outstanding.”

Oliver Glasner’s Palace, who beat City in last season’s FA Cup final, squandered their chances in the first half, with Yeremy Pino hitting the bar when he had only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat.

Haaland was a largely peripheral figure but came alive shortly before half-time, heading a pinpoint Matheus Nunes cross across Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson to give City the lead.

Palace again started the second half brightly, and Wharton cracked a low drive against the base of the post.

But they paid the price for their wayward finishing when Foden drilled expertly into the bottom corner after a powerful run from Rayan Cherki to double the visitors’ lead.

It was the sixth goal in four Premier League games for the forward, being watched at Selhurst Park by England manager Thomas Tuchel.

City added gloss to the scoreline when Haaland thundered a penalty past Henderson after Savinho was taken down by the goalkeeper following a surging run late in the game.

Villa show steel

Villa started their match at the London Stadium as the form team in the league, with nine wins in 10 matches.

The visitors fell behind twice, to Mateus Fernandes’ goal after just 29 seconds and a poacher’s strike from Jarrod Bowen.

But a Konstantinos Mavropanos own goal cancelled out the opener, and Morgan Rogers hauled Villa level at 2-2 before the England midfielder capped a sparkling performance with a stunning shot from outside the box.

The victory leaves Unai Emery’s men just three points behind Arsenal, while West Ham remain stuck in the relegation zone.

It is an astonishing turnaround for Villa, who did not score a single Premier League goal in their first four matches of the season.

“We know we can get back into any game and we have the fight to win it,” said Rogers. “To get the three points today is massive; it’s a big win.

“We play for each other, and we know our tasks. We are in a good moment, and we want to keep it going.”

Two goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and a screamer from Ibrahim Sangare gave Forest a comfortable victory over troubled Spurs and lifted Sean Dyche’s Forest five points above the drop zone.

Newcastle are languishing in 12th place in the table after sinking to a 1-0 defeat at the home of local rivals Sunderland, courtesy of Woltemade’s blunder in the opening minutes of the second half.

The two teams were facing each other for the first time in the Premier League for nearly a decade after the Black Cats’ recent return to the top division.

Brentford host Leeds in the late kick-off.

AFP

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