Last update on.From section Premier League
Jack Grealish scored his first goal since January's defeat at Burnley by Aston Villa 3-2.
Jack Grealish, Manchester City's 100m-man, scored his home debut when the reigning Premier League champions returned back to winning ways with a thrashing of newly-promoted Norwich.
Pep Guardiola's side won against the Canaries after three consecutive defeats.
Their first two goals, both set up by low Gabriel Jesus crosses, were a bit of fortune. Grant Hanley's attempt to clear flew in at Tim Krul, Norwich's keeper. City's second rebounded off Grealish.
The hosts were not satisfied with the win. They also saw a fine Ferran Torres result in-between the goals. This was after the video assistant referee noticed Bernardo Silva’s clip on Milot Rashica during the build-up.
Aymeric Laporte added the second, guiding home a corner from close range. Jesus completed a remarkable and selfless performance by leading Kyle Walker's through ball over the face of the six yard box for Raheem Sterling, to win City's fourth.
Riyad Mahrez, who had lost to Krul by the same score in July 2020, also made his way to the bench.
Grealish seizes glory, but Jesus shines brightest
Grealish, England's midfielder, was friendly with his new fans through his goal and busy display. But it was Jesus who opened the Canaries' cage to make this a walk.
Jesus was almost as often used from the bench as Guardiola as a starter, despite 50 strikes in his 132 Premier League appearances. His clever movement, control, and delivery were responsible for three of City’s five goals.
Gabriel Jesus made his season debut in Manchester City's huge win on Saturday
Grealish and Jesus were on the left and right respectively, and Norwich were pulled in different directions for most of the game. While they held firm for long periods, the pressure proved too much.
It was clear that Guardiola is content with City's squad, despite Sterling and Mahrez being on the bench and Kevin De Bruyne being unable to play due to an ankle problem.
There are bigger tests ahead with Arsenal, Leicester Chelsea, Liverpool and Chelsea among their next five fixtures. With defeats in the Champions League final and Community Shield, and league to Chelsea Leicester and Tottenham still fresh in your mind, there will be even more.
The last time Norwich reached the top flight, they had one of the greatest Premier League surprises, beating City - then as now, reigning champions- 3-2 at Carrow Road in two years.
The Canaries were up in arms from the beginning whistle, as City camped out in their half, before Hanley and Krul unwittingly joined forces to give the hosts the breakthrough.
Hanley was lucky to have his clearance go out for a corner, but it hit Krul who was still at his near post.
This opened the floodgates, and the Canaries were unable to make it to the final shot. A late Rashica attempt was successful that flew over. The Canaries continued their difficult reintroduction into the top flight after a loss to Liverpool on the opening day.
Gilmour Billy Gilmour was the player of the match with an average 7.01 Man City Manchester City Manchester City
Norwich City Manchester City Avg Squad Number 10 Player Name Grealish Average Rating 6.73 Squad Number 26 Player Name Mahrez Average Rating 6.08 Squad Number 9 Player Name Sterling Average Rating 5.87 Squad Number 21 Player Player Player Player Player Player Player player name Gndogan Average ranking 5.78 Squad No 20 Player Player Player named Rodri Average ratings 6.05 Squad no 20 Player Player number Lees-Melou Average rated 5.96 Squad No 20 Player Player number Rodri Average rating of 5.92 Squad # 20 Player Player number 26 Squad numbers 1 Player: Krul Player average rating of 5.57 Squad amount 24 Player number 1 Squad rating 4.07
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text Line-ups Man City Formation 4-3-3 31 Ederson 2 Walker 3 Rben Dias 14 Laporte 27 Cancelo 20 Bernardo Silva 16 Rodri 8 Gndogan 9 Gabriel Jesus 21 Torres 10 Grealish 31 Ederson
2 Walker
3 Rben Dias
14 Laporte
27 Cancelo
20 Bernardo Silva
16 Rodri
8 Gndogan Booked at 39mins Substituted for Palmer at 69' minutes
9 Gabriel Jesus
21 Torres substituted for Sterling at the 61' minute
Substitute for Mahrez in 10 Grealish at 75' minutes Substitutes for 6 Ak
7 Sterling
11 Zinchenko
13 Steffen
22 Mendy
25 Fernandinho
26 Mahrez
69 Doyle
80 Palmer Norwich Formation 4-3-3-1 Krul 2 Aarons 5 Hanley 40 Giannoulis 20 Lees-Melou 7 Gilmour 14 Cantwell 22 Pukki 17. Rashica 1 Krul
2 Aarons
5 Hanley
4 Gibson
30 Giannoulis substituted for Mumba at 45'minutes
20 Lees-Melou
8 Gilmour
McLean Substituted by 7 Rupp at 45' Minutes
14 Cantwell
22 Pukki Substituted for Sargent at 77' minutes
17 Rashica Substitutes 10 Dowell
18 Tzolis
19 Srensen
23 McLean
24 Sargent
26 Mumba
28 Gunn
35 Idah
44 Omobamidele Referee Graham Scott Attendance 51,437 Match Stats live text Post update Match ends in Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0. Second Half ends in Full Time, Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0. Cole Palmer (Manchester City) - Post update Foul Pierre Lees Melou (Norwich City), wins a free kick after the update. Post update Foul by Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City Max Aarons (Norwich City), wins a free kick during the defensive half. Post update Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), right footed shot outside the box is high, wide and to the right. After a corner, Riyad Mahrez assisted. Manchester City, Post-update Corner Ben Gibson conceded. Update: Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), left footed shot outside the box is blocked. Post update Raheem sterling (Manchester City), wins a free kick during the attacking half. Post update Foul by Billy Gilmour, Norwich City Goal! Goal! Goal! Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), left footed shot, from the centre box to the bottom right corner. Rben Dias assisted with a through ball. Post update Offside, Norwich City. Max Aarons attempts a through ball but Milot Rashica gets caught offside. Post update Foul by Bernardo Silva, Manchester City. Post update Todd Cantwell (Norwich City), wins a free kick during the defensive half. Foul by Rodri, Manchester City. Post update Todd Cantwell (Norwich City), wins a free kick during the defensive half. Post update Corner, Manchester City. Bali Mumba conceded. Post update Attempt missed. Milot Rashica (Norwich City), right-footed shot from left side box. It is close but misses top right corner. Substitution Substitution, Norwich City. Joshua Sargent replaces Teemu Pukki. Page 1 of 5 Rewind Previous Navigate to Next Page Next Navigate To The Last Page Forward
