Gvardiol scores brace as City take one step closer to history with win over Fulham

Josko Gvardiol continued his recent hot-streak in front of goal with a double and Phil Foden made it 25 for the season as Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table with a convincing 4-0 victory at Fulham.

The visitors quickly settled into their task of leapfrogging Arsenal at the summit with Gvardiol polishing off a slick move involving Kevin De Bruyne on 13 minutes.

Fulham struggled to get out of their own half for long spells and were fortunate not to go in at the break further behind with Manuel Akanji volleying a simple chance over the bar.

City were always comfortable but made sure there would be no twist to the script when Foden drilled a low 16-yard shot into the far corner just shy of the hour.

Gvardiol then made it five goals in his last seven matches when he expertly slid home Bernardo Silva’s cross 19 minutes from time.

Fulham had Issa Diop sent off in stoppage time and substitute Julian Alvarez converted the resulting spot kick to put the icing on the cake.

The result sees City move two points clear of rivals Arsenal with just two matches to play. Fulham remain 13th.

With one week to go, The Citizens are moving ever closer to becoming the first side to ever win four Premier League titles in a row.

All eyes will now switch to Arsenal’s must-win trip to Manchester United on Sunday, but the big one many have considered as potentially decisive in the race for quite some time, comes on Tuesday night when City visit Tottenham. Should Pep Guardiola’s men avoid a banana skin against a side they have had trouble against in the past, then they will head into the final day of the season at home to West Ham with their title fate firmly in their own hands.

Few expect City to slip now but Gunners fans will hope for one last dramatic twist and a maybe even an unlikely favour from Spurs. Will there be drama or another City procession? Watch this space…

The Croatia star has taken time to adapt in England and live up to his billing as one of the best young defenders in the world, but he’s now demonstrating his quality in a City shirt, both with and without the ball, on a consistent basis. Goals will always catch the eye, but his solid work in central or left-sided situations have made him invaluable to Guardiola and Co in the run-in.

FULHAM: Leno 7, Castagne 5, Diop 4, Bassey 5, Robinson 6, Palhinha 6, De Cordova-Reid 5, Iwobi 5, Pereira 5, Willian 5, Muniz 5. Subs: Traore 6, Cairney 5, Wilson 5, Broja 5.

MAN CITY: Ederson 7, Akanji 7, Dias 7, Ake 6, Gvardiol 9, Rodri 8, Kovacic 7, De Bruyne 8, Bernardo 7, Foden 7, Haaland 7. Subs: Walker 7, Doku 6, Bobb n/a, Lewis n/a, Alvarez n/a.

13’ – GOAL! – Fulham 0-1 Man City: (Gvardiol) A patient move ends with Gvardiol playing a delightful one-two with De Bruyne, cutting past the last defender and guiding a low shot into the corner.

59’ – GOAL! – Fulham 0-2 Man City: (Foden) It’s two! Foden seizes upon Bernardo’s blocked shot and squeezes a low shot into the far corner from just inside the area.

61’ – MANCHESTER CITY CHANCE! De Bruyne plays Haaland in on goal but he somehow contrives to flash his shot well wide. It really should be three.

71’ – GOAL! – Fulham 0-3 Man City: (Gvardiol) He’s at it again! The City defender slides in at the back stick to convert Bernardo Silva’s superb delivery from the right.

90+6’ – FULHAM RED CARD! Diop is sent off for a second bookable offence in conceding a last-gasp penalty for a foul on Alvarez.

90+7’ – GOAL! – Fulham 0-4 Man City: (Alvarez penalty) The Argentine sends the keeper the wrong way with a clinical spot kick.