Man City ease past Fulham to go top after Gvardiol brace

Manchester City moved ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a dominant 4-0 win over Fulham, with Josko Gvardiol scoring twice at Craven Cottage.

Pep Guardiola's champions knew a victory in Saturday's early kick-off would pile the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their trip to Manchester United on Sunday, and they made no mistake.

Gvardiol scored in both halves to make it five goals in his last seven matches across all competitions, while EA SPORTS Player of the Season candidate Phil Foden registered his 25th goal of the campaign as City ate into Arsenal's superior goal difference.

Julian Alvarez added a late fourth from the penalty spot after Issa Diop received his second yellow card, and City know two further victories over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday and West Ham United a week on Sunday will secure the title.

Fulham, meanwhile, stay 13th with 44 points, their winless run stretching to four matches.

How the match unfolded

The hosts’ energetic start quickly fell flat when City struck from their first real attack 13 minutes in, Gvardiol driving inside from the left to exchange passes with Kevin De Bruyne before skipping past Diop and stroking his finish into the bottom-left corner.

Marco Silva cut an animated figure as City smothered their hosts from then on, with Foden testing Bernd Leno from range.

The champions should have had a second on the stroke of half-time as De Bruyne's wonderful cross found Manuel Akanji totally unmarked at the far post. However, rather using his head, the centre-back sent an awkward volley spinning over the crossbar. 

Fulham very briefly improved after introducing Adama Traore at the break, but they were hit with a sucker punch just before the hour as Joao Palhinha's tackle on Bernardo Silva sent the ball straight to Foden, who drilled home on his weaker right foot.

Erling Haaland completely miscued his shot when played through by De Bruyne shortly afterwards, but Gvardiol grabbed his second goal with 19 minutes to play.

Silva curled a cross to the far post, where Gvardiol stretched to prod his shot under Leno.

In celebration the Man City away fans began the Poznan but Oasis star Noel Gallagher refused to join in.

Leno then made a strong save to keep out Jeremy Doku's long-range strike. 

However, Fulham did concede a fourth deep into stoppage time, with Diop's reckless lunge on Alvarez earning him his second caution and allowing the Argentinian to tuck home from the spot.

De Bruyne climbs assist charts

Much of Gvardiol's opener was his own work, the defender showing great composure to beat Leno after motoring infield from the touchline, but he was helped on his way by a fine one-touch pass from De Bruyne – the 19th of a flowing move.

That was the Belgian's 111th assist in the Premier League, taking him level with Cesc Fabregas in second place in the all-time rankings. Only Ryan Giggs, with 162, has more in the competition's history.

De Bruyne has also contributed to at least one goal in each of his last five away matches in the competition, netting three and teeing up five in that time. 

If he can maintain his fine form over the next eight days, City's chances of winning an unprecedented fourth straight title will be greatly enhanced. 

Fulham seeing season fizzling out

Fulham manager Silva was not a happy man at half-time, hooking both Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid after seeing his side fail to record a shot in the opening period.

Though the introduction of Traore added more impetus to their flat frontline, they never truly looked like threatening City as they tallied a measly 0.12 expected goals (xG) throughout the contest.

While Silva denied suggestions his team were "on the beach" on Friday, they have tailed off in recent weeks, their hopes of a top-half finish evaporating due to a run of one win in eight matches (three draws, four defeats).

Club reports

Fulham report | Man City report

Final Premier League fixtures Key Facts

City have won each of their last seven Premier League matches by at least two goals; their joint-longest run of victories in the competition when winning by more than one goal each time (previously a run of seven between May and August 2015).

Fulham have lost each of their last 13 matches against City in the Premier League – the only team to suffer more consecutive defeats against an opponent in the competition are AFC Bournemouth, with their run also being against City (an active streak of 14).

City returned to the top of the Premier League and will end the day in first place for just the eighth time in 2024– overall, this will be the 72nd day they’ve ended in top spot this season; the third-most behind Liverpool (87) and Arsenal (74).

Pep Guardiola has won all 13 of his matches against Marco Silva, his best 100 per cent record against an opposition manager in his career. Guardiola’s sides have scored 44 goals across the 13 matches, while only conceding eight times in return.