Manchester City tightened the Premier League title race with an emphatic win over Fulham, moving to within three points of leaders Arsenal. After their dramatic late comeback at Liverpool last weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side followed it up with a dominant display at the Etihad Stadium.
Three goals in a devastating 15-minute spell before half-time put the game beyond Fulham and ensured City claimed another vital three points at home.
The breakthrough came when Sander Berge’s attempted clearance fell kindly for Antoine Semenyo, who reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close range. The January signing continued his fine form, scoring his fifth goal in eight appearances for the club.
Semenyo soon turned creator, sliding a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Nico O’Reilly, who calmly lifted his finish over Bernd Leno to double the advantage. Before the break, Phil Foden picked out Erling Haaland’s run, and the Norwegian made no mistake, firing low into the corner to cap a clinical first half.
Fulham’s best chance came when Harry Wilson tested Gianluigi Donnarumma at 1-0, but the City goalkeeper was equal to the effort.
City Building Momentum at the Right Time
There is no doubt now that City are firmly back in the title conversation. After a shaky start to the year that saw them go four matches without a win, Guardiola’s team have responded strongly, winning three of their last four league games. Only a frustrating 2-2 draw at Tottenham, where they surrendered a two-goal lead, has interrupted their recent surge.
The Etihad has once again become a fortress. City are unbeaten in 12 home matches and have collected 47 points from a possible 54 on their own turf — the kind of consistency that wins championships.
Semenyo’s impact since his £62.5m move has been immediate, with 17 league goal contributions this season. Haaland, meanwhile, continues to deliver with relentless efficiency. His strike against Fulham was his 22nd in the league this campaign and his eighth goal in as many games against the Cottagers. With the result secure, Guardiola was even able to substitute him early.
Foden showed flashes of energy but remains without a goal in 14 matches after Leno denied him with a low save. Still, City’s overall form in midweek fixtures remains astonishing — they are now unbeaten in 56 such games, a streak stretching back to 2010.
Fulham’s Struggles Continue
For Fulham, the defeat deepens a worrying slump. Three straight losses have left them sitting 12th in the table, and they rarely looked capable of troubling City once the hosts found their rhythm.
Their defence struggled to handle City’s pressing and movement, and conceding three times before the interval effectively ended the contest.
Marco Silva’s record against Guardiola’s side makes for grim reading. The Portuguese manager has now lost all 14 of his Premier League meetings with City, across spells with Hull, Watford, Everton and Fulham. The club’s broader record is even more painful — this was their 20th consecutive defeat to City in all competitions, the longest losing streak against a single opponent in English football history.
Wilson’s early opportunity may haunt them, but over the course of the match, City’s quality proved overwhelming.
FA Cup Action Up Next
Attention now turns to the FA Cup, with both sides in fourth-round action this weekend. City welcome local neighbours Salford City on Saturday, while Fulham travel to face Championship side Stoke on Sunday.
