Manchester City beat Fulham to return to the top of the Premier League as Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season in all competitions.
Haaland converted a third-minute penalty, after Julian Alvarez had been fouled by Tim Ream, to become the first top-flight player to reach a half-century of goals in one campaign since Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring did so for Aston Villa in 1931.
The Norwegian striker also moved level for most goals in a Premier League season – matching the 34 goals Andy Cole scored for Newcastle in 1993-94 and the same amount Alan Shearer registered for Blackburn a year later.
However, Fulham grabbed a 15th-minute equaliser with their first attempt of the match as Carlos Vinicius powerfully shot past Ederson after Harry Wilson had headed the ball into his path.
But the hosts could not hang on to record a remarkable result.
Jack Grealish had an effort pushed on to the crossbar for Manchester City, who regained their lead in the 36th minute through Alvarez’s superb strike from 25 yards out.
City’s win moves them above and one point clear of Arsenal, with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand.
This was the first time City have been above Arsenal since mid-February as they aim to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Fulham
Squad number17Player nameLeno
Squad number2Player nameTete
Squad number4Player nameTosin
Squad number13Player nameReam
Squad number33Player nameRobinson
Squad number6Player nameReed
Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha
Squad number8Player nameWilson
Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius
Squad number10Player nameCairney
Squad number11Player nameSolomon
Squad number21Player nameJames
Squad number28Player nameLukic
Squad number31Player nameDiop
Manchester City
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva- Squad number47Player nameFoden
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Leno
- 2TeteBooked at 70mins
- 4Tosin
- 13ReamSubstituted forDiopat 22′minutes
- 33Robinson
- 6ReedSubstituted forLukicat 76′minutes
- 26João Palhinha
- 8WilsonSubstituted forSolomonat 76′minutes
- 18PereiraSubstituted forCairneyat 58′minutes
- 14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forJamesat 76′minutes
- 30Alves Morais
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 5Duffy
- 7Kebano
- 10Cairney
- 11Solomon
- 12Cédric Soares
- 21James
- 28Lukic
- 31Diop
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 31EdersonBooked at 90mins
- 25Akanji
- 2WalkerBooked at 90mins
- 3Rúben Dias
- 16Rodri
- 19ÁlvarezSubstituted forBernardo Silvaat 83′minutes
- 8Gündogan
- 5Stones
- 9Haaland
- 26MahrezSubstituted forFodenat 83′minutes
- 10GrealishBooked at 70mins
Substitutes
- 4Phillips
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 21Gómez
- 32Perrone
- 33Carson
- 47Foden
- 82Lewis
Live Text
