Erling Haaland ended his open play drought as Manchester City beat Fulham 3-0, cutting Arsenal’s Premier League lead to three points.
Manchester City set the tone from the opening whistle at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side pressed aggressively and dominated possession early. Fulham struggled to clear their lines under sustained pressure. City moved the ball quickly through midfield and looked sharp. The opening goal felt inevitable rather than fortunate.
The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute. Sander Berge miscued a defensive header under pressure. Antoine Semenyo reacted quickest and poked home from close range. It was his fifth goal in eight league games since January. City barely paused before pushing forward again.
Just six minutes later, City struck again. Semenyo turned provider with a perfectly weighted pass. Nico O’Reilly timed his run well and lifted the ball over Bernd Leno. The finish was calm and precise. Fulham looked stunned by the speed of the attacks.
City wrapped up the contest in the 39th minute. Phil Foden found Erling Haaland on the edge of the area. The striker drilled a low shot into the bottom corner. It was his first Premier League goal from open play since December. The Etihad responded with clear relief.
Fulham had a brief chance to change the game. Harry Wilson broke forward after a turnover. His low strike forced a sharp save from Gianluigi Donnarumma. City responded immediately by scoring again. That moment summed up Fulham’s evening.
Guardiola withdrew Haaland at half time with the job done. City reduced the tempo and focused on game management. Fulham saw more of the ball but created little threat. Donnarumma dealt comfortably with late efforts. The clean sheet was never seriously threatened.
City finished the match with 13 shots and three goals. Fulham managed just one shot on target. The hosts remain unbeaten in 12 straight home matches. They have now won 17 consecutive league meetings with Fulham. The gap to the summit has narrowed significantly.
The win moved City to within three points of leaders Arsenal, who still hold a game in hand. Semenyo impressed with a goal and an assist. O’Reilly continued his excellent run of form. Haaland’s finish could prove crucial in the run in. The first half performance was decisive.
Fulham have now lost three league matches in a row. Marco Silva’s side struggled with City’s pressing throughout. Defensive errors proved costly once again. Their winless run against City now stretches to 20 games. Improvement is needed quickly to halt the slide.
Manchester City host Salford City in the FA Cup on Saturday before hosting Newcastle United in the Premier League on 21 February. Fulham travel to Stoke City on Sunday in the FA Cup before travelling to Sunderland on 22 February for their next Premier League fixture. Fulham face a demanding stretch that will test their resolve.
