Haaland kept his composure to score his 18th league goal of the season after Kevin De Bruyne was fouled by Antone Robinson in stoppage time to deny Fulham an unlikely point. Julian Alvarez blasted the hosts in front on 17 minutes after relentless pressure, but referee Darren England’s decision to send off Joao Cancelo and award Fulham a penalty turned the game around. Andreas Pereira fired home the spot-kick (28) to bring the visitors level but, after a marginal VAR call had already frustrated Haaland, the Norwegian restored City’s lead by slotting his penalty under Bird Leno with almost the last kick of the match. Haaland told Sky Sports: “It’s fantastic. I was nervous [for the penalty]. It was one of the most nerve-racking moments of my life, but fantastic. Penalty in the last minute, of course I would be nervous. But it’s an amazing feeling. “I like it. I’ve been injured for a week and it’s very important to win.” The result means City are 32 points clear of Arsenal with the Gunners facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Fulham remain seventh with 19 points after ending their four-match unbeaten run. Image: Haaland celebrates with John Stones after scoring
Player Ratings
Man City: Enderson (6), Stones (6), Akanji (6), Ake (6), Cancelo (5), De Bruyne (7), Rodry (6), Gudogan (6), Silva (7) and Alvarez (7) ., Grealish (6). Subs: Haaland (7), Foden (6), Lewis (n/a), Dias (n/a). Fulham: Leno (6), Tete (6), Diop (7), Ream (6), Robinson (6), Reed (7), Palhinha (6), Wilson (7), Pereira (7), Willian (6), Vinicius (7). Subs: Cairney (6), James (6), Mbabu (n/a), Harris (n/a). Player of the Match: Kevin DeBruyne.
How Haaland lined up Fulham
Pep Guardiola’s 10-match home run in all competitions remains intact and the unbridled joy that greeted the final whistle as the Catalan embraced Alvarez and Jack Grealish on the pitch supported the champions’ spirit. City are now unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against Fulham, winning 12, including their last 10 against them in the competition, but they could not have let win No 10 go later.
Team news
Erling Haaland was named on the bench for Manchester City as the champions host Fulham in the Premier League. The prolific Norwegian, who has scored 22 goals in just 22 appearances for City, was not deemed fit enough to play 90 minutes after missing his side’s last two games through illness and a foot problem. Julian Alvarez therefore kept his place up front with Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan the only other players left from the squad that played Sevilla in midweek. Kevin De Bruyne was among those returning. Fulham were without star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, meaning Carlos Vinicius came into attack. Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson came in for the suspended Bobby De Cordova-Reid and the injured Neskens Kebano.
Alvarez had the chance to impress from the start, with Haaland fit but on the bench, but it was De Bruyne who had the first chance as his hard drive from 25 yards was deflected away by Leno inside 10 minutes. Fulham arrive in Manchester having won just two of their 15 away Premier League games against the champions, although they won their most recent match 1-0 at Liverpool in March 2021. They are without their talisman with nine goals , Aleksandar Mitrovic due to ankle pain as Carlos Vinicius drove the line. Image: Julian Alvarez walks away after putting Man City ahead against Fulham Pereira was somewhat lucky not to see red for a late challenge on Rodri early on, but it didn’t take long for City to take the lead. Ilkay Gundogan collected the ball in the gap from Rodri and, after piercing the Fulham defence, Alvarez kept his composure to fire a right-footed shot into the net through the underside of the crossbar. Leno wasn’t covered in glory, waiting for a shot across goal as he went to ground, but Alvarez was rewarded for his lightning-quick move. City looked in complete control and might have doubled their lead when John Stones headed in from close range, but Rodry was offside in the build-up to De Bruyne’s free-kick. Image: Joao Cancelo receives a straight red card Less than a minute later, Fulham were awarded a penalty. Vinicius did well to draw Nathan Ake and release Harry Wilson on goal before a glaring barge from Cancelo led to the inevitable consequences. Referee England had no hesitation in awarding the spot and sending off Cancelo, who was adjudged to have made no attempt to play the ball as the last player. The Citizens had gone 40 league games without having a player sent off prior to this. Picture: Andreas Perieira chooses his position from the 12 meters Pereira kept his cool to send Anderson the wrong way. The home fans’ mood turned as foul as the weather and, fueled by a sense of injustice, Grealish twice went close before the interval, with an effort curling wide, before another shot was deflected just wide. City should have restored their lead before the break when Manuel Akanji rose unmarked to head home Leno from the penalty spot. It was City’s fifth try after Pereira’s equalizer and it didn’t take long for Haaland to brace after the restart with Fulham happy to use the extra man to keep City at bay. Image: Manchester City players flank referee Darren Engdan The visitors remained compact and combative, allowing City the ball in their own half, with Wilson’s tame effort in transition failing to trouble Anderson as Phil Foden and Haaland were called on for a double substitution just after the hour mark. De Bruyne remained City’s bright spark as his disguised free-kick whistled just past the post, and it was the Belgian’s brilliance that looked to have unlocked Fulham when his superb cross was headed home by Haaland. But according to City’s time, VAR Stuart Attwell advised referee England to rule out the goal with Haaland on the wrong side of Issa Diop’s back foot. City were not to be denied, however, as, after Robinson latched onto De Bruyne, England became the unlikely heroes at the Etihad – and Haaland did the rest. Image: Haaland suffers a nuisance after his penalty for the injury When asked if it was great to be back, Haaland said: “I want to play every game. Difficult [to be on the sidelines] but in the end we need three points and that’s what we got. “I’m so tired, but so happy. You have no idea.”
“Haaland’s early intervention written in the stars”
Image: Haaland scores his team’s second goal from the spot
Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds: “There were scenes of relief at the Etihad. When the news broke that Aleksandar Mitrovic would not be involved due to a slight ankle problem, Manchester City fans must have felt they were in for an ordinary afternoon against Fulham. “Julian Alvarez continued his encouraging run to open the scoring, but there would be nothing routine about this 10th successive home win in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side. “What’s a 3pm kick-off at Eastlands? City have often taken their eye off the ball when the UK TV cameras aren’t watching, but it was solid refereeing – not complacency – that turned this game into a proper dogfight in the driving rain. Image: Haaland suffers a nuisance after his penalty for the injury “Guardiola didn’t look happy after Joao Cancelo’s red card, but despite the numerical advantage for Fulham, City would enjoy 71% of the ball and register 16 attempts to their opposition’s four. The player was substituted as Haaland entered the fray, but Guardiola would be vindicated. “For both of City’s goals here, Bird Leno could have been questioned, with Haaland’s penalty tucked under his body, but having missed the last two games through injury, it was a dramatic retirement written in the stars.”
Haaland equals record – Opta Stats
Image: Haaland entered the game after 64 minutes
Manchester City have won each of their last 13 games against Fulham in all competitions, with only longer wins coming against Watford (15) and West Bromwich Albion (14). Manchester City played 64 minutes with 10 men today, the first red card they have received in a Premier League game they have won since March 2014 against Hull (2-0, Vincent Kompany sent off in the 10th minute). Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has scored 16 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances. It is the most goals scored by a player in a 10-game period in the competition, joining Luis Suarez’s 16 goals which ended in December 2013. Since making his Manchester City debut as a substitute at the King Power Stadium, every one of Julián Álvarez’s five goals for the Citizens have come at the Etihad in games he has started.
What’s next?
Wednesday 9 November 19:00 Start 20:00
Manchester City host Chelsea live on Sky Sports in the third round of the Carabao Cup this Wednesday. Coverage starts at 7.30pm. on Sky Sports Main Event starting at 20.00. City then complete their pre-World Cup Premier League fixtures at home to Brentford on Saturday 12 November. The start is at 12.30 pm. …
