Yaya Toure finally got his opportunity to start in the Premier League for the first time since April and the first since Pep Guardiola took charge of Manchester City.
And the 33-year-old needed just 39 minutes to show the Spaniard just what he’s been missing by scoring a beauty to put the Citizens in front away at Crystal Palace.
Two weeks after apologising to the former Barcelona boss, Toure proved he’s still got it by hitting a double – his first in almost 18 months to help City beat Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
2 – Yaya Toure has scored a Premier League brace for the first time since May 2015. Double.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 19, 2016
The midfield maestro showed no sign of rustiness or fatigue as he featured for the entire duration of the game to help City and Guardiola move to the summit of the log following Liverpool’s goalless draw with Southampton.
As expected, fans trooped to social networking platform, Twitter, to react to the Ivorian’s Man of the Match display on his return.
Yaya Toure . Return of the King
— ibrahim Aliyu (@IEljuma) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure is back with a bang and a goal.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure went on holiday, kicked off with Pep and still scored a vital goal before David Silva. Best player in City’s history
— Curtis Boulton (@curtisboulton) November 19, 2016
“Yaya Toure having his cake and eating it too” @Torvaney
— Tom (@Worville) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure went on vacation, started a war with the manager and still scored a vital goal before David Silva ?
— Sagna Boy (@SagnaBoy) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure is the most complete CM I’ve ever seen
— Finlay (@ObsCesced) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure has scored in his first Premier League start of the season. His agent is composing a smug tweet as we speak.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 19, 2016
OH YAYA TOURE I THINK WE SHOULD PAY YOU SOME MORE.
— James (@James_Halfpenny) November 19, 2016
We welcome back King Yaya Toure!!! ??
— Name cannot be blank (@Lolad_e) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure is back best way to silence critics
— Collins Okinyo (@bedjosessien) November 19, 2016
YAYA TOURE HAS SCORED MORE PREMIER LEAGUE GOALS THAN POGBA HAS THIS SEASON AND HE’S ONLY PLAYED ONE GAME LOOOOOOOOOOOL
— RS7 (@CitysNo7) November 19, 2016
Away fans belting out, “Oh Yaya Touré, I think we should pay you some more.”
What a return for the big man. pic.twitter.com/pltb3JI7uC
— City Watch (@City_Watch) November 19, 2016
GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! YAYA TOURE SCORES AGAIN! BUY THAT MAN A CAKE!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 19, 2016
Where’s Dimitri Seluk? ?? #MCFC pic.twitter.com/Qd8UHVwSVW
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure: 2 goals in 90 minutes
Paul Pogba: 2 goals in 11 games.
— ManCityPhotos (@ManCityPhotos) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure be like… pic.twitter.com/mr5QNDmXFb
— TheSPORTbible (@TSBible) November 19, 2016
Yaya Toure is love, Yaya Toure is life?
— Gavin Watchorn (@thewatchornlad) November 19, 2016
