Perhaps looking jaded from their midweek European exploits, a slow start had those watching wondering when the game would catch light.
The first real opening came 15 minutes in, when a deft Adam Wharton pass freed Yéremy Pino in behind, but as Gianluigi Donnarumma hit the deck early in the City goal, the Palace wide man could only crash an effort against the crossbar.
It was Oliver Glasner’s men with the momentum, and they went close once more when the returning Ismaïla Sarr flashed a ball across the six-yard box that was begging to be tapped home, but Jean-Philippe Mateta couldn’t quite get on the end of his cross.
Chances were at a premium in the first half, with neither side having many clear-cut openings.
City’s first notable sight of goal came from a set-piece when Phil Foden curled around the wall only to see his effort beaten away to safety by Dean Henderson.
A goal always feels inevitable with City though - a matter of when, not if, they're going to score - and Erling Haaland grabbed his customary strike when he rose highest at the far post to head home Matheus Nunes’ delivery.
Palace knew they had to come out and attack after the break, and their efforts almost yielded an equaliser when Wharton hit the woodwork from outside the area.
Tijjani Reijnders went close to doubling CIty’s advantage when his effort forced a fine one-handed save out of Henderson, but they didn’t need much more time to place the game beyond Palace’s reach.
Foden has clicked through the gears this season and he was once again at the forefront, striding through the centre of the pitch before arrowing an effort into the bottom corner.
Glasner's side rallied in the closing stages and rolled the dice by taking Nathaniel Clyne off for Christantus Uche in a desperate bid to find a late way back into the encounter.
But in pushing forward, they were susceptible at the back, and City hit Palace with a sucker punch when Savinho strode clear before being brought down by Henderson inside the area.
Haaland stepped forward from 12 yards and found the bottom corner to round off another sensational day in the capital for a City side who are keeping pace with Arsenal at the Premier League summit.
Palace, meanwhile, miss the chance to move back into the top four, although they sit only two points adrift.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
