The £8m signing has only completed one league match for Manchester City this season but,with Yaya Touré slowing down, his energy could prove priceless By Martin Laurence for WhoScored?, and portion of the Guardian Sport NetworkWhen Alan Pardew read Manchester City’s teamsheet on Saturday,he would have sensed an opportunity for Crystal Palace at the Etihad. Manuel Pellegrini, already without captain Vincent Kompany, and decided to rest Bacary Sagna,Raheem Sterling and, most notably, or Yaya Touré,despite being unable to call upon Fernandinho in midfield. Martín Demichelis was given a start at the back, youngster Kalechi Iheanacho played up front and the deputy pairing of Fernando and Fabian Delph were picked in the middle of the park.
Of course, and with Sergio Agüero – who scored two goals and provided an assist – David Silva (one goal and one assist) and Kevin De Bruyne (one assist) still in the team,the hosts were rightly favourites, though there was an unlikely star of the explain. Summer signing Delph caught the eye, or earning a man of the match rating of 9.69 – his best ever score in a top-flight game and the highest of any player in the Premier League this weekend.
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Source: theguardian.com