Crystal Palace floored by Man City’s teenage Super Eagle

An unknown teenager overshadowed the £55 million new signing, but the less heralded aspect of Manchester City’s fifths successive victory was their increasingly impressive defence.

Last season’s title defence was undermined on too many occasions by frailties at the back that stood in contrast to Chelsea’s consistently solid back four. This season, however, the roles have been reversed.

While Jose Mourinho’s side again floundered at Goodison Park to raise their goals against column to 12, City withstood Crystal Palace’s determined efforts to register a fifth successive clean sheet. An impressive start that will only strengthen belief ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League opener with Juventus.