Brilliant City brush aside Fulham
Fulham 0-4 Man City
Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League after producing an imperious display against an outclassed Fulham side at Craven Cottage.
Two Josko Gvardiol goals either side of a Phil Foden strike, and a late Julian Alvarez penalty, eased City to an emphatic win. Fulham ended the match with 10 men after Issa Diop was sent off in the final stages.
The victory was City 16th in succession in all competitions against Fulham – an English football record – with the Whites producing little in the way of chances.
Gvardiol opened the scoring in the 14th minute after exchanging passes with Kevin de Bruyne and slotting past Bernd Leno, but it was all City had to show for their dominance, with Erling Haaland and Rodri missing good chances.
Fulham boss Marco Silva introduced Adama Traore and Tom Cairney after half-time in an effort to lift his side’s attack.
But aside from an awkward, low Trarore cross that Ederson clawed away via a Rodri deflection, Fulham did little to trouble to the Brazilian keeper.
Foden added the second goal on the hour mark with a first-time finish after Bernardo Silva’s run was halted by a strong Joao Palhinha challenge, with the England man reacting quickest to the loose ball.
Haaland missed another glaring chance when he scooped over the bar from close range as Fulham struggled to stop City’s waves of attack.
Croatia international Gvardiol added his second 15 minutes from time when keeper Bernd Leno let his close-range effort squirm under his body after the outstanding Silva had delivered a perfect delivery into the box.
Fulham’s misery was compounded deep into stoppage time when Diop was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Alvarez, who made no mistake with the resulting penalty.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Pereira (Wilson 75), Decordova-Reid (Cairney 45), Iwobi, Muniz (Broja 67), Willian (Traore 45).
Subs not used: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Jimenez, Ream.
