Crystal Palace vs Manchester City live updates: Haaland and Cherki start for visitors in Premier League match

Rayan Cherki has been compared to a god by Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, who coached the midfielder at Lyon.

Cherki, 23, was one of four Manchester City players — alongside Nico O’Reilly, Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland — named in the 2025-26 PFA Team of the Year on Tuesday.

After an impressive debut season at City having joined the club from Lyon in the summer of 2025, Cherki began his 2026-27 campaign in the same vein with two assists to help his side beat Bournemouth 2-1 at Etihad Stadium.

After being told Cherki had described him as a genius, Sage said at his media conference:

💬 “I don’t know the word for higher than a genius (describing Cherki). I am not a genius; he is a genius. To speak about something and to teach something is a step. But to do these things is another step. He is at this level. Maybe God (is the way to describe him)?

“It was a process with him (Cherki) because a lot of people thought he would not have success in his career. I did not have this same thought.”

• Additional reporting: Matt Woosnam