Manchester City will want to avoid any more slip ups when they host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain unbeaten in the league with the same number of points as Arsenal, but have dropped points in two successive matches.
City have struggled in the absence of Rodri, who sustained an ACL injury ruling him out for the rest of the season, and Kevin De Bruyne who could make his return against Fulham.
But City will be hoping their dominant 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions LEague has had a similar effect on their league form.
Fulham have started the season in solid form, currently in sixth after winning three and losing just one of their opening six matches.
Follow all the live action in the blog below:
Manchester City vs Fulham
Rising to the challenge of replacing Rodri in the champions’ midfield, Kovacic has not only scored twice today but he’s also dictating play, picking the ball up from his defence and spraying it around confidently.
Manchester City vs Fulham
Grealish tries to pick out Haaland with a cross into the box from the left flank, but Robinson is alert and heads it away. Fulham can’t full clear their lines, though, and City’s constant pressure resumes.
Manchester City vs Fulham
Since half-time, Manchester City’s share of the ball has been a remarkable 87%. They are patiently probing around Fulham’s area, and the away side are not able to escape on the break like they did before the interval.
Manchester City vs Fulham
City’s dominance of this second half continues, as Foden fires over a cross from the right and Haaland slightly mistimes his jump before heading the ball off target. That was well wide, but the hosts have stepped up several gears since the break – Guardiola will have made his thoughts quite clear.
Manchester City vs Fulham
Kovacic has scored his third goal in the Premier League this season – already a new career high. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva has now set up three this term, and he has assisted four goals in eight top-flight appearances against Fulham.
Manchester City vs Fulham
Should Manchester City merely avoid defeat today, they would extend their remarkable unbeaten home record to 50 matches, becoming just the fourth English top-flight team to reach that milestone, after Liverpool (85 between 1978-1981), Chelsea (74, 2006-2008; then 58, 2004-2006) and Sunderland (50, 1890-1893). However, as things stand they would slip three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool going into the international break.
Manchester City vs Fulham
A brave first-half performance by Fulham sees the London club on level terms with Premier League champions Manchester City, as the half-time whistle blows with score at 1-1. After absorbing plenty of early pressure – with Gundogan and Haaland both missing good chances – the Cottagers struck first, when a moment of magic from Jimenez set up Pereira’s close-range finish. City bit back soon after, as Kovacic crashed in a low shot from the edge of the area following a corner. A wide-open encounter is reflected by both teams’ xG, with Fulham on 1.35 to their hosts’ 1.17 so far. Perhaps today is the day City’s long winning run over their capital-city counterparts finally ends?
