Manchester City prevailed in a nine-goal feast at Fulham thanks to the sort of attacking display that would normally have title rivals quaking in their boots.
Unfortunately for Pep Guardiola’s side, City’s defensive display will have had those same rivals sighing with relief.
City led 5-1 early in the second half after a 100th Premier League goal for Erling Haaland, a Phil Foden double, one from Tijjani Reijnders, and Sander Berge’s own goal. They were seemingly cruising towards victory by a handsome margin.
But Fulham, led by substitute Samuel Chukwueze, hit back with three unanswered goals and even had one effort cleared off the line in stoppage time as they came close to completing one of the great comebacks.
City were on the ropes and just about absorbing shots as they clung on for the points.
“I was close to scoring and then they went and made it 5-3, so that’s football, that’s the beauty of football,” said Haaland.
“That’s why we love the game.”
The powerful Norwegian’s feat of reaching 100 goals in 111 Premier League games is the fastest the century has been achieved in the competition, and he weighed in with two assists too.
But City went from being a side who looked as though they could keep scoring, to being a group almost begging the final whistle to come.
Guardiola joked afterwards: “I’m so old, and the players don’t respect me! They don’t have to treat their manager in that way.
“It only happens in this league.”
By holding on, the win put City two points behind leaders Arsenal, although they knew that gap would increase to five again if Mikel Arteta’s side were to win their game in hand against Brentford on Wednesday.
