Roy Hodgson made changes to his line up from seven days ago as they faced unbeaten Manchester City, with Mamadou Sakho getting his first Premier League start since his return and Timothy Fosu-Mensah in for Joel Ward. Jason Puncheon was named on the bench as Jeffrey Schlupp played further forward with Patrick Van Aanholt at left back.
It was Palace who had the first shot on goal as Jeffrey Schlupp got on the end of a pass from Christian Benteke, who had got the better of his man as he broke forward, but the 4th minute chance was blocked by John Stones.
Mamadou Sakho nearly had the worst possible start to his first appearance in the Premier League since his return to the club as, trying to clear the danger from a Kevin De Bruyne cross with a diving header, he put the back against his own post but fortunately it went away to safety.
City enjoyed a lot of possession in the opening period of the game and Palace had Wayne Hennessey to thank for the deadlock not being broken on thirteen minutes. From a corner the ball falls to Nicolas Otamendi and from point blank range the goalkeeper pushed the ball away and once again the visitors were grateful that the home side couldn’t make anything of the loose ball.
Just two minutes later he was called into action again when he got down at his near post to smother a low drive from Raheem Sterling.
It was at the other end though where the woodwork saved City from going behind. Ruben Loftus Cheek broke clear and made space for himself just outside the box and his shot beat Ederson Moraes in the City goal but the ball struck the post to deny the on loan midfielder.
The same player had another chance on the half hour mark as Andros Townsend and Patrick Van Aanholt combined well to set up a chance for Loftus-Cheek but even though he got on the end of the cross he put a good chance wide of the target.
City came close to continuing their outstanding goals return as Leroy Sane’s cross was met by Sergio Aguero but from right in front of the Palace goal, he put the chance over the bar and a let off for Palace.
Hodgson will be pleased with his sides’ defensive first half display and for all the approach play from the home side they struggled to break the visitors down but did finally get the breakthrough minutes before the break.
Sane played the ball to Silva, and then received the ball back before getting it past his man and calmly finishing off the move as he put the ball beyond Hennessey to go in at the break with the advantage.
The home side increased their advantage soon after the break. Sane was involved again as he made the cross from the left hand side and played the perfect ball to find Sterling, he had timed his run perfectly and made no mistake to put the home side two ahead,
The England striker nearly had his second of the afternoon three minutes later when Hennessey could only push away a cross from De Bruyne and Sterling put his opportunity into the side netting.
It was not long though before he made amends as De Bruyne played the ball to the far post and Aguero put the ball into the path of Sterling, who made no mistake, to continue their fine form in front of goal this season.
Changes were made by Hodgson as Puncheon came back into the action and Benteke left the field due to injury, replaced by Bakary Sako.
A second half dominated by City saw the scoreline increased with twelve minutes remaining as Sane was involved again with his cross headed home past Hennessey by Aguero.
With two minutes remaining an excellent strike from just outside the area from Fabian Delph into the top corner of the net completed Palace's misery after another impressive performance from City
Manchester City: Ederson , Walker, Stones (Delph 69), Sterling (Silva 60), Agüero, De Bruyne, Sané, Silva, Mendy (Danilo 28), Fernandinho, Otamendi.
Subs: Bravo, Mangala, Jesus, Touré
Palace: Hennessey, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Dann, Cabaye (Puncheon 56), Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Sakho, Schlupp, Benteke (Sako 71). Fosu-Mensah.
Subs: Speroni, Ward, Tomkins, McArthur, Riedewald
Yellow Cards :
Man City – Mendy, Danilo, Sane.
C Palace: Schlupp.