Manchester City go top with crucial win over Fulham

• Manchester City’s resilient 2-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage has allowed them to pass Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings.
• The champions returned to the top of the table for the first time since February thanks to goals from Erling Braut Haaland and Julian Alvarez.
• Carlos Vinicius scored a goal for Fulham.

Manchester City fought to win 2-1 over Fulham at Craven Cottage and allow them to pass Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings.

The champions returned to the top of the table for the first time since February thanks to goals from Erling Braut Haaland and Julian Alvarez on either side of a Carlos Vinicius goal, though Marco Silva’s team gave their opponents a few scares along the road.

Manchester City’s quick start

Haaland scored a penalty to put City ahead. |PHOTO: Manchester City|

Riyad Mahrez gave Alvarez possession inside the box within the opening 90 seconds, and Tim Ream tripped the Argentine with a flailing leg to give away a penalty right away.

Haaland stepped up, and even though Bernd Leno correctly predicted his decision, the City forward chose the corner to score his 50th goal of the year and a record-setting 34th in the Premier League.

In the 15th minute, a revitalized Harry Wilson made a sprinting move between City’s two centre-backs to receive a long pass from Andreas Pereira. The Welshman’s knockdown arrived at Vinicius’ feet, who powered home a half-volley against the grain of play to tie the score.

The hosts’ initial joy quickly turned to worry, however, as Ream was substituted in the 21st minute with his arm in an improvised sling. Issa Diop replaced the injured captain.

The opposition attempted to move the ball to Jack Grealish at every opportunity, and the talented Englishman came within inches of giving City the lead again in the 27th minute but Leno deflected it over the crossbar.

In the 36th minute, Alvarez sent a rocket across Leno’s outstretched arm and into the top corner when confronted by a wall of white shirts 20 yards from the goal to help Pep Guardiola’s team regain the lead.

Goalless second half

Alvarez strikes to give City the lead. |PHOTO: Manchester City|

After a few Leno saves from Haaland and Alvarez shortly into the second half, there was a long delay caused by a collision between Pereira and Manuel Akanji; the former was injured far more severely and needed to be carried off with his leg wrapped in padding.

While the majority of the action continued in Fulham’s half, the Cottagers managed to contain the champions and had two penalty appeals turned down. The first came when Ederson scampered to deflect the ball away from Vinicius, and the second came when Bobby Decordova-Reid fell to the ground as a result of pressure from Kyle Walker.

The Citizens lead Arsenal by one point and have a game in hand before West Ham United visits on Wednesday. Fulham, meanwhile, is in 10th place and has only a couple of days to recover before travelling to Anfield to play Liverpool in the middle of the week.