Premier League 2023-24: Guardiol brace against Fulham sends Manchester City top

Manchester City went top of the Premier League with a week left in the season as two goals from Josko Guardiol and one each from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez sealed a 4-0 demolition of Fulham on Saturday.

City’s stroll in the London sunshine, their seventh straight league win and 16th consecutive victory over Fulham in all competitions, moved them two points clear of Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola’s relentless side, closing in on an unprecedented fourth straight title in England, have 85 points from 36 games, with Arsenal on 83 played also 36 points.

Arsenal can regain top spot by beating Manchester United on Sunday but City, who have a game in hand at Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, are now two wins away from making history.

Croatian defender Gvardiol put the ball in front in the 13th minute after a fine one-two with Kevin De Bruyne and City doubled their lead, Foden firing home after 59 minutes. Guardiol made sure of the points when he slid in to meet Bernardo Silva’s cross at the back post.

The City fans were in full party mode when Alvarez tucked away a stoppage-time penalty after being fouled by Issa Diop, who was sent off for his second yellow card.

City set a new English record for consecutive wins by one club against another as they beat Fulham again, but it is a landmark fourth successive title that they really want.

He took a huge step in that direction, extending his unbeaten run to 21 games, putting the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.

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Guardiola’s side have had to bounce back recently, with their last three winners all coming after Arsenal won, but this time they were given the chance to test the London club’s resolve in the weekend’s opener.

Mid-table Fulham started their final home game of the season in positive fashion with early forays forward, but City quickly settled into their passing rhythm.

Defender Gvardiol showed his appetite for goals recently when he played a one-two with De Bruyne, rounding a Fulham defender and dispatching a static Bernd Leno.

It was his third goal in his last five Premier League games, but for all City’s dominance, they were unable to extend their lead before the interval.

With Arsenal’s form giving City no margin for error, there were a few flurries, with goalkeeper Ederson forced to rush to deal with a low deflected cross, but any nerves were calmed in the 59th minute when Silva’s run it was blocked and the ball fell to Foden, who swept a shot past Leno.

Erling Haaland should have made it 3-0 when the Norwegian shone, but such is City’s wealth that goals can come from anywhere, as Gvardiol and Alvarez proved.