Manchester City ascended to the summit of the Premier League standings Sunday following a momentous achievement by Erling Haaland, who shattered a 92-year-old goal-scoring file.
Julian Alvarez’s sensational strike additionally secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory for City in opposition to Fulham.
Norway striker Haaland transformed a third-minute penalty at Craven Cottage to turn out to be the primary top-flight participant to attain 50 objectives in all competitions since 1931.
“Before Winston Churchill was Prime Minister? Wow. Sounds like a long time ago. Congratulations to Erling. The best goal to help us achieve what we want is still there,” City boss Pep Guardiola stated.
Haaland additionally moved stage with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s single-season Premier League file whole.
Shearer scored 34 for Blackburn in 1995, and Cole hit the precise tally for Newcastle in 1994.
Carlos Vinicius equalized for Fulham, however Alvarez’s first objective in six video games, a superb long-range effort, lifted City one level away from second-placed Arsenal.
“The game was so tight until the end. We knew after beating Arsenal that winning these games is important. The players behaved amazingly,” added Guardiola.
“The Alvarez goal was extraordinary. We have incredible strikers.”
Treble-chasing City, on high for the primary time in 10 weeks, have received their final eight league video games and are unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions.
Guardiola’s red-hot staff, who’ve a recreation in hand on Arsenal, must win 5 of their final six video games to make sure of a fifth title in six seasons.
With Haaland’s objective spree exhibiting no indicators of slowing, few would guess in opposition to them making the most of Arsenal’s collapse.
“It’s important but on Tuesday Arsenal will play. So important is the West Ham game; it’s game in hand. After that, we’ll be top of the table, and it will be more real,” Guardiola stated.
Arsenal, winless of their final 4 video games, host Chelsea on Tuesday, with City at residence to West Ham on Wednesday.
In the speedy aftermath of Wednesday’s essential 4-1 demolition of Arsenal, Guardiola had dismissed solutions the title race was over.
History-making Haaland
Guardiola reminded his gamers they had been held to a shock draw at Nottingham Forest of their subsequent match after beating Arsenal in February.
It was a warning that had the specified impact, even with out Kevin De Bruyne, who was lacking as a result of an damage.
City took simply three minutes to maneuver forward in west London as Riyad Mahrez discovered Alvarez within the Fulham space, and the Argentine ahead was flattened by Tim Ream’s clumsy problem.
History in his sights, Haaland took the ball with a decided look and confidently drove his penalty low previous, Bernd Leno.
Fulham broke out to grab an equalizer in opposition to the run of play within the fifteenth minute.
Harry Wilson’s move discovered Vinicius and the Brazilian took benefit of City’s sloppy marking to drill a robust end previous Ederson from 10 yards.
Alvarez has discovered constant game-time onerous to come back by in his first season at City as a result of Haaland’s excellence.
But Guardiola is an enormous fan of the diminutive World Cup winner and confirmed precisely why he has the Spaniard’s religion within the thirty sixth minute.
Taking possession 25 yards from objective, Alvarez held off a Fulham problem earlier than shifting into place to unleash a chic strike that gave Leno no likelihood because it whipped into the highest nook.
Ilkay Gündoğan’s close-range effort was repelled moments later by Leno, who made one other good save to disclaim Haaland’s drive early within the second half.
An extended delay following a extreme damage to Fulham’s Andreas Pereira misplaced City a few of their grip on the sport.
They had a fortunate escape when Ederson virtually misplaced possession inside his space, sparking a scramble that ended with the keeper poking the ball to security.
Fulham appealed in useless for a penalty when Kyle Walker tangled with Bobby Decordova-Reid, who fired narrowly broad quickly after as City held on.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
