Man City 5 Luton Town 1
With both of their rivals in the title race playing a day later, the visit of Luton Town to The Etihad offered Pep Gardiola’s side the chance to go top of the table. The Spaniard has form for getting his side to hit their best form at the most crucial times of the season.
City made six changes from the side that drew with Real Madrid in Spain during the week. Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne returned for the defending champions amongst others. Rob Edwards was under no illusion of the challenge that faced them.
The hosts started on the front foot as Haaland was put clean through. Kaminski did well to block the shot but the visitors could not clear their lines. After Doku’s follow-up was blocked, the Norwegian striker mishit a shot, which deflected off Hashioka and into the back of the net.
Guardiola’s side had no intent of taking their foot off the gas at this point. Gvardiol shot from the edge of the box but the Luton keeper made a smart stop to deny him. De Bruyne then played Nunes in and his drilled shot clipped the far post and went wide.
Credit: @ManCity
The Hatters were struggling to get out of their own half. De Bruyne looked to bend one in the far corner but once again Kaminski kept his side in the game. Considering all the pressure they had been under, Luton will have been happy to go in at the break only a goal down.
Man City continued to pile on the pressure and forced another corner. As the cross broke to the edge of the box, Kovacic hit a stunning volley into the top corner to double their lead. It was no more than the hosts had deserved in this dominant display.
In a rare attack, Onyedinma broke free down the right wing. He got to the byline and picked out Woodrow in the box but his shot crashed off the top of the crossbar. Against the run of play, the visitors had almost found a way back into the game.
All too often, Luton defend like a lower league team. Hacking the ball clear, straight to the opposition, or lunging into tackles like a Sunday morning fixture in a pub league. As Doku skipped past his man, one such challenge sent him tumbling to the floor and resulted in a penalty.
Haaland stepped up to take the spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way as he buried his shot into the bottom corner. This game was officially dead and buried for Rob Edwards’ side. There was no way they were going to get three goals in the time remaining.
The visitors did not give up and pressed City high up the pitch. As the hosts tried to play out from the back, The Hatters capitalised. Barkley neatly dribbled the ball past the defender before slotting a left-footed shot into the far corner. It offered a glimmer of hope to the travelling fans.
Credit: @ManCity
Luton Town struggled with the skills of Doku all afternoon. After dribbling it at the defence, stepping over the ball to send the defender the wrong way, he bent his shot into the far corner. It was the icing on the cake for an impressive performance from the Belgian.
Man City weren’t done there and the goalscorer turned provider as he laid it into the path of Gvardiol. He took one touch to control it before rifling a shot into the top corner of the goal with Kaminski rooted to the spot.
Pep Guardiola’s side took all three points with a convincing victory. It took them to the top of the Premier League table and put the ball in the court of their title rivals. Man City extended their unbeaten run, in all competitions, to twenty-seven games with this win.
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