Manchester City’s relentless pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title reached a crescendo on Saturday as they swept aside Fulham 4-0 at Craven Cottage. Josko Gvardiol’s brace, Phil Foden’s clinical strike, and Julian Alvarez’s late penalty propelled Pep Guardiola’s side to the summit of the standings.
Gvardiol, a Croatian defender, opened the scoring with a composed finish after a flowing 19-pass move. Foden doubled City’s lead in the second half, capitalizing on a tackle that halted Bernardo Silva’s run into the area. Gvardiol then netted his second, stretching to convert Silva’s cross with an agile close-range finish.
Fulham’s hopes of a positive result were dashed when Issa Diop was sent off for fouling Alvarez in the penalty area. The Argentine striker stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sealing a comprehensive victory for City.
With two wins remaining in their title charge, City now hold a two-point advantage over Arsenal. If the Gunners fail to win at Manchester United on Sunday, City will be crowned champions with a victory over Tottenham on Tuesday or West Ham in their final game on May 19.
Guardiola hailed Gvardiol’s unexpected goalscoring prowess, describing him as “unbelievable with both feet.” He also praised his team’s performance, saying, “We played really well and now we recover, then come back to London to play the big final (against Tottenham) to try to retain our title.”
Despite Arsenal’s remaining fixtures, City know that two more victories will secure a remarkable six titles in the last seven seasons. Guardiola emphasized the importance of pressure for his players, saying, “The great players enjoy playing with great pressure. These players in the last few years have been able to do it and we are again in the latter stages.”
City’s 16th successive win against Fulham also mathematically ended Liverpool’s title challenge. Guardiola’s superstitious decision to wear a jumper in the searing heat drew attention, with the Spaniard explaining, “I used this outfit many times so we keep it as it is. Even if it is 45 degrees!”
