Free-scoring City scored another five goals to stay top of the Premier League.
Palace held out until th4 44th minute before Leroy Sane broke the deadlock and a quickfire double by Raheem Sterling deflated the visitors’ initially stubborn resistance.
Late goals by Sergio Aguero and Fabian Delph completed a 5-0 rout.
Joint Premier League leaders versus the bottom-of-the-table side – on paper it looked like a forgone conclusion, but pointless and goalless Crystal Palace arrived at the Etihad under new management and with a midweek Carabao Cup win under their belt.
City made eight changes from the side that beat West Brom 2-1 on Wednesday with seven of those rested against the Baggies returning to first team duty.
So prolific have the Blues been in terms of goals this season that it was something of a surprise that the visitors survived the first 20 minutes relatively unscathed – not that they could have fallen behind.
