Manchester City Edge Crystal Palace

 1-0 

Coming off a big win against Liverpool earlier this week, Manchester City had a considerably easier matchup with Crystal Palace today.  Crystal Palace have won a few games this season, but they have far too many loses and only one draw so far.  Crystal Palace also have one of the worst goal-differentials while Manchester City has the best in the Premier League.  Manchester City were the obvious favorites to win the match, but Crystal Palace did not make it easy.

Through the first-half Manchester City were far superior and racked up over a dozen shots to Crystal Palace's two.  Neither side scored, and the biggest incident came when Crystal Palace forward Cameron Jerome collided with City keeper Joe Hart.  Jerome caught Joe Hart in the head with his foot causing a laceration just below the eye for the keeper.  However it was Jerome that came up the worse for wear and had to come out with a knee injury.  Marouane Chamakh replaced Jerome with ten minutes left in the first-half.

After half-time City manager Pellegrini made some changes and brought in more offense.  Nasri and Negredo entered the match and soon after Manchester took the lead.  Jesús Navas was able to roll a cross into the box for Edin Dzeko who score with a firm one-touch finish (66').

Crystal Palace had defended well up to that point, but had little attacking presence.  Now behind a goal, Palace were in poor shape to respond and get the equalizer.  Jonathan Williams and Dwight Gayle came into the match for Crystal Palace, but City remained solid in defense and held on to the one-nil lead.

Manchester City remain in first-place and put the pressure back on Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool who all play tomorrow.  With a win against Newcastle, Arsenal could become level on points with Manchester City, however the goal-differential would keep City in first-place regardless.

Crystal Palace Lose with Four Goals to Fulham

 1-4 

Crystal Palace have not been particularly good since returning to the Premier League with only one win on the season coming into the Monday night match against Fulham.  Like Crystal Palace, Fulham have not gotten off to a good start and have only two wins out of seven matches played. Crystal Palace were poised to take away three points at home when an early goal put them in front.  Defender Adrian Mariappa pushed forward into the box and scored with a free header right in front of goal (7').

Fulham were being outplayed in the early moments of the match, but the momentum shifted in their favor when Pajtim Kasami scored a brilliant goal.  Kasami made a diagonal run into the box and a well delivered pass helped set him up.  Bringing the pass down with a chest-trap, Kasami then hit the shot on the volley to score from a very tough angle (19').  Near the end of the first-half Fulham took the lead when Steve Sidwell scored with another well struck volley.  Bryan Ruiz hit a free-kick that was blocked by the wall.  The rebound though fell right in front of Sidwell who blasted the volley to the upper-ninety (45').

Crystal Palace were not given much of a chance in the second-half as Dimitar Berbatov and Philippe Senderos each scored shortly after half-time.  First Berbatov scored off a corner-kick with a glancing header to the far-post (50').  Moments later on another corner-kick Senderos was able to win the ball at the far-post and slip the shot under the keeper (55').

Now behind three goals after giving up an early lead, Crystal Palace could not manage to get back into the match.  A few saves were required from Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, but in the end it was a comfortable road win for Fulham.  Crystal Palace have another tough assignment with Arsenal on the weekend, while Fulham travel to Southampton.

Liverpool Coast Over Crystal Palace

3-1

Crystal Palace have scraped their way back into the Premier League and have struggled to compete with the top flight talent.  Crystal Palace have just one win this season over the last-place Sunderland.  Liverpool on the other hand have gotten off to a great start and came away today's match with a comfortable win.

Liverpool again played with only three defenders, but the combination of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in the attack made up for the absence in the back.  Getting things going Suarez passed to Enrique making an overlap run inside the Crystal Palace box who quickly played the ball back to Suarez.  Before he could shoot though Suarez slipped, but from the ground he managed to get enough on the ball to beat the keeper (13').  Moments later Daniel Sturridge added a second goal when he carved up defender Delaney to work a shot.  Sturridge hit the shot hard with his left foot giving keeper Speroni no chance (17').

Later a penalty was called for Liverpool when Raheem Sterling was pulled back making a run into the box by Dean Moxey.  Sterling was right on the edge of the box when the foul occurred and may have been just outside, but the call was made by the sideline official and the referee complied.  Steven Gerrard scored the penalty to give Liverpool a 3-0 lead going into half-time (38').

Crystal Palace made two substitutes at the start of the second-half that gave the club a positive charge.  José Campaña and Dwight Gayle came on and helped Crystal Palace get on the scoreboard.  A freekick near the Liverpool end-line gave Crystal Palace the chance to attack like a corner-kick.  Gayle won a glancing header flicked to far-post that found the net (77').  The visitors could not create any other goals and Liverpool take three points.

For the time Liverpool are on top of the League table, one game ahead of Arsenal who play West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.  Next week the Premier League will not have games with another round of important World Cup qualifiers coming.