Brilliant City hit top spot with emphatic victory at Fulham | OneFootball

Manchester City moved top of the Premier League with a superb 4-0 victory away to Fulham.

Josko Gvardiol extended his remarkable scoring streak with two goals to take his tally to five goals in seven matches in all competitions as we hunt a record-breaking fourth title.

The Croatian defender fired us into a 13th minute lead when he rounded off a slick 19-passing move with a delightful finish.

Phil Foden scored a crucial second just before the hour mark before Gvardiol’s second and a Julian Alvarez penalty in stoppage time.

A seven-game winning streak takes us two points clear at the summit and means victories in our final matches against Tottenham and West Ham would guarantee the trophy.

What happened

With the sun shining on the banks of the River Thames, the lunchtime kick-off gave the perfect opportunity to start the weekend in style.

Guardiola made just one change from the side that beat Wolves with Ruben Dias replacing Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji moving across to right-back.

Any slip-up would hand the advantage to Arsenal and while Fulham may not be fighting for a European place or for survival they made a positive start aiming to upset our title challenge and sign off their home fixtures with a win.

After pushing City back in the opening minutes, we wrestled control of possession and snatched an early advantage with our first short on target.

Working the ball across the pitch patiently, we looked for a chance to break through and it was Gvardiol that seized the opportunity, cutting inside before exchanging passes with Kevin De Bruyne and sidefooting neatly into the corner.

It disrupted Fulham’s smart start, and moments later, a panicky mix-up between Calvin Bassey and Bernd Leno gave a sight of goal to Erling Haaland but he volleyed over.

City did suffer an early setback with Nathan Ake unable to continue after a foot inury, and replaced by Walker, with Akanji switching back to the middle.

On the other flank, Gvardiol was proving a huge threat and he beat the offside trap to race clear, pulling the ball with Bernardo’s shot well saved by Leno.

Fulham were bravely defending with a high line to try to squeeze the space but the Blues’ intense pressure saw us keep winning the ball high up the pitch to keep the Cottagers’ at arm’s length.

We enjoyed large swathes of possession but we couldn’t find a second before the break with De Bruyne and Bernardo having dangerous shots in the box blocked and Akanji firing over from close range.

Marco Silva brought on Tom Cairney and Adama Traore to try to change the rhythm of the match and the home side looked more of a threat.

The Spanish winger created Fulham’s best opportunity when he fired in a low cross that Rodrigo Muniz tried to flick home but Ederson scrambled across to keep it out.

A second goal would help settle any nerves but former Gunners’ keeper Leno was doing his best for his old club with good saves to deny Bernardo and De Bruyne.

But he was finally beaten in the 59th minute with an exquisite finish from Foden from just inside the box.

Bernardo created the opportunity with an outrageous turn to take the ball away from Antonee Robinson but when he was tackled by Palhinha’s strong challenge, it ran to Foden who lethally tucked his shot inside the far post.

The players celebrated wildly in front of the thousands of travelling fans to the side of the goal and loving their day in the sunshine.

Haaland missed a chance to make it three, but it was Gvardiol who is suddenly running the Premier League’s leading scorer close for proficiency in front of goal.

Not that he seemed convinced that he had scored his second when he squeezed in Bernardo’s cross from a tight angle.

The Croatian defender thought he was offside, but when the flag stayed down, he raced away to celebrate and VAR proved the decision was correct.

Some supporters were calling for Gvardiol to be given the opportunity when we were awarded a 97th minute penalty after Alvarez was chopped down by Issa Diop, who was given a second yellow card.

But with goal difference still potentially important, the Argentinian took the spot-kick himself, sending Leno the wrong way.

TEAMS

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Palhinha, Iwobi, Willian (Traore 46), Perreira (Wilson 74), De Cordova-Reid (Cairney 46), Muniz (Broja 67)

Subs not used: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Reed, Raul

City: Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Ake (Walker 22), Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic (Lewis 82), De Bruyne (Doku 75), Bernardo, Foden (Bobb 82), Haaland (Alvarez 82)

Subs not used: Ortega Moreno, Stones, Gomez, Nunes

KEVIN HEAVEN

Everyone knows that De Bruyne is the assist king, and his ability to provide the key moments is almost taken for granted.

But on a regular basis, he brings up another milestone to remind us all just how incredible his contributions are.

The Belgian’s pass for Gvardiol’s opener was the 112th in the Premier League, taking him clear in second for all-time assists, only behind Ryan Giggs.

He is also joint second on the assists list for 2023/24 with 10, only behind Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins on 12. Not bad for a player that missed five months of the season after surgery in the opening month of the season.

PEP GUARDIOLA REACTION

To follow…

PLAYER REACTION

To follow…

WHAT IT MEANS

City are two points clear at the top and victory in our final games at Spurs and at home to West Ham would guarantee the title.

Liverpool are now out of the title race but Arsenal could move back to the top tomorrow.

The Gunners are in Manchester on Sunday to face United at 16:30 (UK) in their penultimate game of the season.

WHAT’S NEXT

We’re back in London on Tuesday 14 May for another huge Premier League clash when we face Tottenham Hotspur.

Our record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is not the best with no Premier League wins or goals at the venue, but City broke our hoodoo with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup in January.