Five Things Learned: Fulham 0-4 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

A Josko Gvardiol brace, as well as goals from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez, saw Manchester City coast their way to a 0-4 victory against Fulham on Saturday.

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League, until Arsenal responded with a 0-1 win over Manchester United 24 hours later to retain their position as the current league leaders, despite Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand.

City grabbed the lead early in the first half at Craven Cottage when Josko Gvardiol scored a lovely goal, gliding past multiple Fulham defenders off the dribble. After beating the first man with pace, the Croatian played a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne and calmly finished.

This was a goal that would have been praised enormously if a winger had scored it, let alone a central defender converted into the left-back role under Pep Guardiola for large parts of the ongoing season.

City scored a much-needed insurance goal in the 59th minute, when Phil Foden pounced on a loose ball and beat Bernd Leno. It was a bit of a scrappy goal that was setup from a long run by Bernardo Silva that eventually saw him tackled before Foden took advantage.

From here on out, the game was comfortably in Manchester City’s hands and Josko Gvardiol grabbed his brace just 10 minutes later when he got on the end of a Bernardo Silva looping cross to the back post.

In the closing moments, Julian Alvarez was raked down inside the box and awarded a penalty. There was little protest from the Fulham players and Alvarez coolly slotted home into the bottom right corner.

Manchester City are set to face Tottenham on Tuesday night, in the penultimate game of their Premier League season. A win would keep the Sky Blues in control of the title race, but dropped points would swing fate back to Arsenal.

Here are Five Things We Learned from Manchester City’s convincing win over Fulham to maintain the destiny of the ongoing Premier League title race in their own hands.

City have the best away support in the league, by far

At times it felt like Craven Cottage was empty on Saturday afternoon.

That was until chants from the traveling Manchester City supporters took over the entire stadium. Every single word of each chant and song could be heard loud and clear over the broadcast, and shots of the Poznan looked other worlds.

This is far from the first time Manchester City have had excellent traveling support. In fact, it’s now expected. However, this was maybe the loudest traveling fans I’ve heard yet. Impeccable job all around.

Josko Gvardiol is an alien

The first goal scored by the Croatian on Saturday was legitimately one of the nicer goals I’ve seen City score this season. From link up play with De Bruyne, to effortlessly skipping past would-be defenders and scoring with his weak foot, it was yet another special performance.

It’s a goal that might not get the recognition that it deserves in terms of top goals in the Pep Guardiola era. However, players will remember that goal for the foreseeable future, and the fear be strikes in their eyes can only be more beneficial.

Second season syndrome proving itself with Josko Gvardiol’s performances as of late. Just an immensely special talent and only just 22-years-old.

Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool woke up from their dream

A few months back when the German coach sat in front of a camera and told Liverpool fans he was stepping away at the end of the season, it felt like a spark being lit on a slightly underwhelming team.

By spring, it was looking as though a Premier League title was well and truly on the cards for the Merseyside club. However, City’s win on Saturday officially put Liverpool out of reach of this year’s Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp’s career in England will end with just one Premier League title to Pep Guardiola’s (currently) five.

Goal Difference may actually come into play

It seemed impossible just a few weeks back that Manchester City were even in control of the title race, let alone take the lead in goal difference. However, the Sky Blues’ performances over the last weeks have slowly started to chip away Arsenal’s superior goal differential.

IF City were to draw against Tottenham on Tuesday, the Premier League title would come down to “who wins and by how much,” for the final game of the season. It’s terrifying to think about, but the Premier League title could come down to either goal difference or goals scored.

Phil Foden continues to dress up his breakout season

Another big moment in a vital match, and yet another vital goal. It all started five years ago in the run in against Liverpool that saw the then teenager’s diving header help secure a vital three points against Tottenham.

From the hat-tricks against the likes of Brentford and Aston Villa, to the long range strikes against the likes of Everton and Manchester United. Overall, the latest effort is just another bow to use and wrap Phil Foden’s soon-to-be-awarded PFA Player of the Year award.