Manchester City took advantage of Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea to move to within three points of the league leaders with a comfortable win over in-form Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Yaya Toure marked his return to the side after two games out with a goal and an assist in the first half as the visitors eased to victory in south London.

City took the lead in the fourth minute when Toure’s cross was met by Edin Dzeko to give the title chasers a perfect start.

Toure scored a wonderful goal two minutes before the break, as he played a one-two with Samir Nasri deep in Palace’s half, drove forward into the box, shrugged off the challenge from Joel Ward and curled an effort into the net to give the away side a comfortable lead at half-time and take his side closer to winning the title.