Cherki's Selhurst Park masterclass powers Manchester City past Crystal Palace

Rayan Cherki wears his emotions on his sleeve. After a stunning two-goal display in Manchester City's 4-1 dismantling of Crystal Palace, the French attacker was asked on live television how much he had enjoyed the game. His answer was refreshingly blunt: a sweary, unflattering self-assessment of his first-half performance that left Erling Haaland laughing beside him.

• Cherki scored two superb second-half goals to seal a commanding away victory for Manchester City.
• The 23-year-old made his first start of the season after coming off the bench to assist twice against Bournemouth.
• Enzo Maresca praised Cherki's defensive work, not just his attacking quality.
• Erling Haaland and others found the net in a 4-1 win at Selhurst Park.
• Pundits compared Cherki's style to Eden Hazard, Georgi Kinkladze and Eric Cantona.

Cherki's moment to shine in the post-Guardiola era

Cherki joined Manchester City from Lyon for a bargain £30m and has long been viewed as a mercurial talent capable of much more. Last season under Pep Guardiola he made 33 Premier League appearances, though 14 of those came from the bench. With Guardiola gone, the question was whether Cherki could cement a regular starting role under new manager Enzo Maresca.

He began the campaign as a substitute at Bournemouth, where he assisted both late goals in a comeback victory. That contribution earned him a start at Selhurst Park, and he delivered the kind of irresistible performance that makes him impossible to leave out.

Two moments of individual genius at Selhurst Park

The first goal arrived nine minutes into the second half, with City leading 1-0 and Palace pushing for an equaliser. Cherki collected Phil Foden's pass on the edge of the box, slalomed through four Palace defenders, and poked a left-foot finish past goalkeeper Dean Henderson. He celebrated with a defiant stare toward the Holmesdale Road stand, a touch of arrogance reserved for the truly special players.

After Palace pulled a goal back, Cherki restored the two-goal cushion with a rising right-foot strike from 20 yards. Both goals came at pivotal moments, underlining his growing value to a City side determined to prove it can thrive without Guardiola.

After Rayan Cherki painted a masterpiece, City started to play and got a real hold of it. His goals came at an important time. He is a genius. The things he can do with a football are absolute genius. There aren't many Premier League players I've seen that can do this on the first goal.

Maresca praises Cherki's work off the ball

What impressed Maresca most was not just the two goals but Cherki's defensive contribution. The Italian revealed his playmaker was charged with controlling Adam Wharton, one of Palace's most influential midfielders and a player City have monitored. Cherki pressed tirelessly and delivered what his manager described as a complete performance on both sides of the ball.

Maresca acknowledged Cherki's reputation for unpredictability, admitting the Frenchman is not the easiest player to keep happy. But after this display, both manager and player were satisfied. The connection between them could prove crucial as City navigate a demanding season.

Hazard, Kinkladze and a hint of Cantona

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp compared Cherki's close control to Eden Hazard and recalled Georgi Kinkladze, the cult hero of Manchester City teams from a previous generation. The way Cherki weaves through defenders in tight spaces, especially inside the penalty area, forces opponents into desperation.

Redknapp also noted a touch of Eric Cantona in Cherki's celebrations, a blend of confidence and charisma that makes the Frenchman a natural entertainer. At £30m, he looks like an extraordinary piece of business who gives City a genuine X-factor in the final third.

A difficult World Cup and a point to prove

Cherki arrived at Selhurst Park after a frustrating World Cup with France, where he was used sparingly by Didier Deschamps. His only start came in the third-place play-off against England, and he was withdrawn at half-time with his side trailing 4-0. Videos had also emerged showing him visibly unhappy with the national team coach.

Known for wearing his emotions openly, Cherki has sometimes struggled to stay content at Leicester City and Chelsea. Maresca knows how to manage him, and a happy Cherki is a devastating weapon. Against Palace, he looked like a player determined to force his way to the front of City's attacking queue.

Manchester City send an early message under Maresca

Much of the pre-season talk had centred on whether City would inevitably decline after Guardiola's departure. This performance suggested otherwise. A 4-1 win at one of the Premier League's most awkward away grounds, with Cherki pulling the strings, sent a clear message to any doubters.

The victory also came before a tough run that includes a clash with French champions Paris Saint-Germain. With Cherki in this kind of form alongside Haaland and the club's other attackers, Maresca has every reason to believe his squad can compete on multiple fronts.