On a cool December afternoon in south London, Manchester City were simply ruthless. In a Premier League clash that began at 14:00 GMT on December 14, 2025, City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at Selhurst Park. Erling Haaland scored twice, Phil Foden added one, and the champions-in-mentality turned half-chances into goals. Palace, chasing a fourth win in a row and meeting City for the first time since the FA Cup Final, had openings of their own. But the story was clinical finishing, and City owned it.

Match recap: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

From the start, Palace were brave. They tried to play, they tried to press, and they tried to set the tone in front of a loud crowd. City were calm. They waited, they picked their passes, and when the chances came, they were cold and clear. The final score tells that tale: 0-3.

Haaland’s two goals showed why he changes games. Foden’s strike underlined how City spread the threat around. Palace had moments. Crosses flashed, shots teased, and the home side did not shy away. But in both boxes, City were sharper. That was the gap.

“Palace played brave, but City punished every loose touch.”

Haaland and Foden: ruthless in front of goal

Erling Haaland does not need many looks to hurt you. Two goals here were a reminder. He finds space, he times his runs, and he strikes early. When the ball is in the box, he is first to it. That is his edge.

Phil Foden adds a different kind of threat. He drifts into pockets and sees passes others miss. When he decides to shoot, it comes with power and purpose. Together, Haaland and Foden give City two ways to score: one direct, one crafty. That mix broke Palace today.

There was no waste. Each clear chance felt like a goal. That is what “clinical” looks like. It is not about flooding the box; it is about making the most of the few moments that matter.

“Haaland needs two chances? Today he only needed one.”

Palace had openings — City had the finish

This was not a one-sided game. Palace created chances. They found space wide and worked the ball well. They were brave at set pieces and forced City to defend. On another day, one of those breaks finds the net and changes the feel of the match.

But football comes down to the boxes. City were better in theirs and Palace were not precise enough in the other. A small touch, a split-second late run, a shot at the keeper instead of the corner — these little details add up. City made their moments count. Palace did not.

That is why the score looks clear. The difference was not effort. It was end product.

“If Palace want four in a row, the lesson is simple: be ruthless.”

First meeting since the FA Cup Final: a fresh chapter

The match carried a little extra weight. It was the first time these two had met since the FA Cup Final. That memory framed the build-up, and it gave Palace a clear aim: show growth, show belief, and stretch their winning run to four.

City, though, stayed steady. They handled the mood and the noise. They turned the occasion into a routine away win. In that sense, the game felt like a message from City: emotions come and go, but habits last. Their habit is to take control, even if the ball and the chances are shared. Their habit is to decide matches in moments.

City’s clarity, Palace’s lesson

There are simple lessons here. For City, it is a reminder that sharp finishing beats almost anything. They did not need to be flashy. They needed to be clear and calm. Haaland and Foden gave them that edge.

For Palace, the takeaway is not about ripping up the plan. The plan gave them chances. The next step is turning those chances into goals. At this level, small things swing big games. A cleaner final pass. A firmer header. A shot into the corner, not at the keeper. Those small gains change the story.

What the 3-0 means now

Palace’s run stops here, but the effort was not empty. They stood up to a top side and created enough to believe they can bounce back. The schedule moves fast, and if they keep this intent, the wins will come again.

For City, this was a neat away day: three goals, a clean sheet, and key forwards on the scoresheet. It builds rhythm. It builds confidence. Most of all, it shows that even on days when the play is even, their finishers make the difference.

Live updates from Selhurst Park carried the energy of the crowd and the swings of the match. But when the final whistle blew, the scoreboard was simple: Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 3. A clear message in clear numbers.

Bottom line

This game was won by calm minds and cool finishing. Haaland’s double and Foden’s strike turned open play into end product. Palace had chances; City had goals. In the Premier League, that is the whole point. The next time these teams meet, Palace will want to bring the same bravery and add the final touch. City will try to do what they did today: stay patient, stay clinical, and let their stars decide it.

Simple story, big lesson: chances are hope; finishing is proof.