Manchester City and Crystal Palace delivered an exciting first-half showdown at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace side have been in top form lately, and that momentum continued in the opening 25 minutes against Manchester City. The Eagles shocked the Etihad by racing into a 2-0 lead, courtesy of goals from Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards. However, they were under pressure by halftime, as City fought back to draw level at 2-2, with Kevin De Bruyne playing like a man on a mission.
Despite De Bruyne’s dominance, another midfielder caught the eye—Adam Wharton. His standout performance justified Pep Guardiola’s pre-match praise and hinted at a bright future.
Wharton Shines Against Man City
Alan Shearer pointed out that City’s narrow formation left gaps that Palace exploited, particularly for the opening goal. Wharton capitalized on this space in midfield, dictating play with poise and precision.
The 21-year-old ended the half with a perfect passing record—100% pass and cross accuracy, 100% success with long balls, one big chance created, and an assist for Richards. His versatility, being comfortable both as a number six and number eight, makes him a potential future fit for Man City.
Guardiola a Known Admirer
Pep Guardiola didn’t hide his admiration for Wharton before the match. Speaking to TNT Sports, the City boss said:
“An excellent holding midfielder. He was in the national team already. The impact has been really good, coming from the Championship to the Premier League, brilliant left foot, a really good player.”
Stephen Warnock previously urged Liverpool to sign him, and performances like this one will only increase interest from bigger clubs. Wharton remains committed to Palace for now, but his ceiling in the Premier League appears sky-high.
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