Man City 5 Fulham 1
Man City went into this game as the only team in the Premier League with a 100% record this season, as they welcomed Fulham to The Etihad. The visitors had frustrated Arsenal last week when they nicked a point from Arteta’s side in North London.
Pep Guardiola was still missing from the dugout as he recovers from back surgery, but from what we saw last week, he seems to spend the majority of the game on the phone to his assistant manager to continue pulling the strings for The Citizens.
While Man City struggled to trouble the Fulham keeper for most of the first half, Phil Foden was causing problems for their defence. Twice he showed off his silky skills, to square the ball into the six yard box but on both occasions, there was no one there to convert it.
It took until the 31st minute before the reigning champions were to register a shot on target but as Haaland squared it to Alvarez, he slotted it past Leno in the Fulham goal. The visitors supplied the perfect response when Jimenez’s effort was saved by Ederson, only for Ream to tap the ball into the net. City were ahead for all of 60 seconds.
Credit: @ManCity
Just before the interval, City had a corner which Ake headed into the bottom corner but Akanji seemed to be in an offside position and affecting play. VAR reviewed it and ludicrously allowed the goal. More airtime for Howard Webb no doubt.
It is getting to the point now where we should just scrap the technology as it is not bringing any benefit to the game whatsoever. You could be forgiven for thinking Stevie Wonder was on VAR duty at The Etihad when the goal was allowed to stand.
Erling Haaland got on the scoresheet after almost an hour of play with what was his first real glimpse of goal. The big Norwegian was in clinical form with his finish and added a second from the penalty spot soon after. City were starting to run away with the game.
Sergio Gomez came off the bench to set up a third goal for Haaland as he cut it back from the byline for the striker to drive a shot home on his favoured left foot. Another day, another match ball for prolific forward.
It was a heavy defeat in the end for The Cottagers but they will feel hard done by as City’s second goal seemingly changed the game. There is no doubt that the goal should not have stood, Akanji let the ball go through his legs on its way into the goal. It was a simple decision, the player was interfering with play, no goal. What is more worrying is VAR’s inability to apply the laws of the game once again.
Kalvin Phillips came on for the final six minutes of the game, did nothing of note, but it was enough to earn him a call up to the England squad. What Gareth Southgate is currently smoking is a wonder to football fans up and down the country as he picked him ahead of in-form James Ward-Prowse.
Credit: @ManCity
Who are we to second guess the thought process of a man who thought it was a good idea to do a pizza advert mocking himself after his missed penalty had cost England a place in the Euro 96 final on home soil, thus confirming that nothing was in fact coming home much to the anger of Baddiel, Skinner and an entire nation.
Man City march on, 100% record intact and are looking in formidable form even with the absence of their Spanish manager. Haaland has taken a mere 39 games to get his fifth hat-trick for The Citizens, insane stats from the Norwegian.
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