MANCHESTER — Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at home on Saturday to go level on points with Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Manchester City's Joe Hart saves a shot from Crystal Palace's Fraizer Campbell during the clubs' Premier League match at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. (Reuters Photo)
David Silva scored twice at the Etihad Stadium as City won their sixth straight game. The defending champions move to 39 points with Chelsea, who play at Stoke on Monday, holding the top spot on goal difference.
The loss leaves struggling Palace a point clear of the drop zone pending the outcome of later matches.
Entering the match without a bona fide striker because of injuries to Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko, manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "We must change the way we play, a different system."
Midfielder Silva gave City the lead early in the second half. The Spaniard added his second goal 12 minutes later and Yaya Toure closed the scoring with nine minutes left.
Crystal Palace now have just one win from their last 11 top-flight matches. The Eagles have not won at City since 1990.
City have now scored in 14 successive league matches, the longest such run in the league this season.