Man City take big step to Premier League title with routine win at Fulham
FULHAM 0 MANCHESTER CITY 4
ANY hope Arsenal had that Manchester City might stumble in the penultimate weekend of the Premier League title race disappeared when Pep Guardiola’s side secured a seventh successive league win to return to the top of the table for the first time since mid-April.
Josko Gvardiol once again emerged as City’s unlikely goal-hero with the left-back scoring twice to take his tally to five goals in his last seven games, either side of Phil Foden’s 25th goal of the season.
The Croatian might even have had a hat-trick had he not passed up the chance to step up when Julian Alavarez was brought down by Issa Diop to win a 97th minute penalty. Alvarez took the honours instead after Diop had been dismissed and victory was complete.
The focus now shifts on to Arsenal who visit Manchester United on Sunday with a two-point gap to the leaders, who also moved closer to matching the Gunners’ superior goal difference.
Guardiola insisted before kick-off that his side faced three finals in the final week of the season, starting with the visit to Craven Cottage. And there was little doubt his players’ eyes were very firmly on the prize as they dominated Fulham throughout.
A positive opening suggested Marco Silva’s side might make Guardiola’s men work hard for victory. But once Gvardiol had made the 12th minute breakthrough there was little doubt City would get the job done.
The goal highlighted City at their best as they pieced together a fluent passing move before the ball arrived at Gvardiol on the left wing. The left-back moved inside and exchanged passes with Kevin De Bruyne. moving past Issa Diop before placing a composed finish past Bernd Leno.
From that moment City controlled the first half as Fulham
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