(Premier League 2023/2024): Highlights Fulham - Man City

The countdown clock is down to three. The Blues now need nine points to secure an historic fourth title in a row. They're at Fulham this afternoon to play the opening game of the Premier League weekend, knowing that a victory will take them to the top of the table, with the opportunity to say to Arsenal, go and win at Old Trafford tomorrow, or we'll go into the final week of the season without even the necessity to win both our remaining matches. Kovacic, City with some real control of the ball, but you can see how well Fulham have worked out of possession, because the gaps are small, it's a narrow pitch, and City are finding it difficult to make space. Ake on towards Kvardia, Kvardia steps inside, finds De Bruyne, looks for the return, Kvardia, real chance, and he scored! Josko Kvardia, that is stunning! Absolutely wonderful goal from Josko Kvardia, little passage of play down the left-hand side, he came in, played a 1-2, and then just side-footed it with his right foot into the corner of the net, all of a sudden Josko Kvardia is becoming a goalscorer, and City lead 1-0. It's two or three touches before getting the shot off, it's just perfection, it's a tremendous finish. We've seen that in the recent weeks, the quality in his right peg, that's just a tremendous quality-composed finish. And in the midst of all of that, Kevin De Bruyne has just got his 111th Premier League assist, which means he's now second in the all-time Premier League assist list. City are into the penalty area, Kvardia are into the path of Foden, it reaches De Bruyne, De Bruyne on the edge of the deep, shooting chance, Bernardo Silva, and a save by Bernd Leno. I don't think it was one of those that Leno would have ever backed himself not to have saved, but the fact was it was an attempt on target, and City could have gone 2-up. It's onside, and there's no real pressure on the ball, and yet they are inviting anyone who wants to make a run. Out wide it goes to Bernardo Silva, Walker on his outside, Bernardo Silva comes in, plays it across to Rodri, Rodri on to Kovacic, Kovacic couldn't find his way through, Pellinia wins it back, and then City win it back again, with Kovacic, slides it through, Bernardo Silva, and now Rodri, Rodri on to De Bruyne, De Bruyne into the gap for Foden, Foden, shooting chance! And straight at Bernd Leno. Another attempt on target, though. Yeah, brilliant, brilliant for City, so hard for them, when you're talking about 2- or 3-yard passes, and congested areas, and you still can't affect the first touch. Headed away by Castagne, picked up by Iwobi, back it goes to Robinson in the left-back position, he's given it away again, De Bruyne picks it up, Bernardo Silva, and now Kovacic. City in and around the final third, Fulham defending so deep because City are forcing them there, Rodri, out wide to De Bruyne, De Bruyne now to Bernardo Silva, on it goes to Foden, Foden, can he get his shot away? Maybe there's a chance for Bernardo Silva, it's blocked and it spins away, and Castagne prevents the corner, no he doesn't, City corner. Just that little change in pace, pass, pass, and then a little tempo there from De Bruyne, and it just began to open up, Foden just couldn't quite get the ball out from his feet. City have gone short with this corner, Foden back to De Bruyne, De Bruyne's ball in, oh, it's on Marta Kanji! Oh, he should have scored. He should have scored, he knows he should have scored, I think the offside flag's gone up, might have spared his blushes. Goodness me, that is exactly what you want as a defender in that position, it's not easy, he's got to readjust his side foot, what a chance that was. De Bruyne's got it, can City find an opportunity here? Haaland now, Haaland, edge of the area, De Bruyne, on towards Bernardo Silva, Bernardo Silva saved by Bernd Leno, it was an impossible angle to score to be honest, he hit it with his right boot, Bernd Leno always was going to save it on his near post, City have a corner. Now De Bruyne can come forward, it's headed away though by Robinson, there's a bit of space here for Fulham to explore. Rodrigo Muniz with a lay-off, and out it goes to Adam Atriore, now there's danger for City, cross into the area, deflection, Edison can't reach it, and then finally he does, and that's why we're concerned at 1-0, Andy. Absolutely, once you go back to front, you leave yourself wide open, and that's probably one of the only times in the game where it seemed to be big distances between the units, and there's just a little touch, just enough. Dangerous. It was, there was just a split second, oh and City almost lost it again, Edison, he's given it away but Foden will get to it, that wasn't the recipient that he intended, but now City come forward, Guardiola, Guardiola midway inside the Fulham half, checks and comes back, finds Foden, Foden helps it on to De Bruyne, De Bruyne shooting, position, good save Leno! Really good shot from De Bruyne, Daisy Cutter aiming for the corner, Leno at full stretch. It's a great effort, it's a good save as well. Now Bernardo Silva can dart forward, he's got past Robinson, and then he's tackled right on the edge of the area, and it's a goal from Foden! Well that came out of nothing, Bernardo Silva was halted on the edge of the area, I think he was about to win a free kick, but it came to Foden, and Foden tucked it into the corner with his right foot, and out of almost nothing, City lead by two goals to nil, and the sharpshooter, the marksman that is Phil Foden, takes his 25th goal of the season, and there's daylight at last. Such an important goal that, cos what you'll get now is that the nervousness that City are playing with will disappear, I think we'll get the third and fourth goal going on from here, not getting ahead of myself, that goal is so important, Ali. So 30 minutes to go, City are a clean sheet away from going two points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Look at the space out wide, can they get it out wide? De Bruyne, Haaland! Oh, he's missed it! What a chance. Oh, he dreams of chances like that. He can't believe it, Pec Guardiola can't believe it. It's still two-nil, Andy. It's brilliant for City, I said they'd get another chance, he just can't get his foot round it. Kanji, midway inside the City half, finds Rodri. Rodri plays a long ball out to the right side, there's a two-on-one here, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. Bernardo Silva plays it to De Bruyne, De Bruyne across the face of the goal, and eventually it's cleared for a corner. Could have gone anywhere, Andy. Oh, the timing of the ball from Bernardo Silva is beautiful. You know he's seen it, you don't look, you just reverse it. Brilliant timing from Bernardo. It was indeed. Ball's in the possession of Phil Foden. Ready to take this latest City corner, goes short to Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne back to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the area. Bending ball, and turned in over the line! Unless he's offside. He's offside, is he? Vardyar celebrating, the goal's been given! City lead 3-0. Well, the Fulham players and I were looking for a flag that never got raised, and unless VAR have got a different opinion, City lead by three goals to nil, Andy. If we look at it again here now, this is difficult to find anyone. Yeah, he's miles off. And as well, Traore switched off as well, on the corner. He hasn't got out quick enough, so yeah, 3-0. That is 3-0. He looked to the naked eye, to the Fulham players, to the goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and to me, like he had to be offside, but he's come from deep. Just over ten minutes to play. City lead by three goals to nil. The ball goes forward, it's on to Adama Traore, and City are a bit stretched here. Adama Traore in the penalty area. Still Adama Traore. City win it back with Bernardo Silva. Triple change, double change definitely. Bob and Alvarez coming on for Foden and Haaland, but Doku has it in the left wing position, charging down that left side. He's got Bernardo Silva on his outside. Doku goes for goal, and Leno makes the save. Another good save from Bernd Leno. He's made three of four today, otherwise City would have narrowed the goal difference gap. Guardiola, another match today. Two goals for him. Plays it back to Ederson. Ederson just by the penalty spot. Pops the ball out to the right side to the skipper, Kyle Walker. On it goes to Rodri. Rodri into Luis. Luis advances forward. He's got Bob to his right-hand side. Here is Oscar Bob in the right wing position. On to Rico Luis. Luis round the outside. Ball into the box. Alvarez almost got to it. Penalty kick. Foul on Alvarez. City with a chance for a fourth goal. Yellow card. Oh, that'll be a red card. Issa Diop's second yellow. Issa Diop, two yellows. Off goes Issa Diop. Ten men for Fulham. Can he make it 4-0? Julian Alvarez does. City 4, Fulham 0. Wonderful afternoon for the Blues. Alvarez has scored in every single match he's ever played against Fulham. And the Blues are heading to the top of the table in absolute style. The reality is that City are in the position now where if Arsenal do not win tomorrow at Old Trafford, the Blues need to win one of their remaining two games and they are champions. The final score, Fulham 0, City 4.