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London. — Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League as Erling Haaland equalled the competition’s single-season goal record and Julian Alvarez scored a stunner to clinch yesterday’s 2-1 win at Fulham.
Haaland converted a third minute penalty at Craven Cottage to move level with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s single-season Premier League record total.
Shearer scored 34 for Blackburn in 1995 and Cole hit the same tally for Newcastle in 1994.
Haaland has reached 34 Premier League goals in just 30 appearances in the competition, scoring more than 21 top-flight teams have managed in total in their first 30 games this season. It was also the Norway striker’s 50th City goal in all competitions since he signed from Borussia Dortmund last year.
Carlos Vinicius equalised for Fulham but Julian Alvarez’s first goal in six games, a brilliant long-range effort, lifted City one point clear of second placed Arsenal.
Treble-chasing City, on top for the first time in 10 weeks, have won their last eight league games and are unbeaten in their last 18 matches in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola’s red-hot team, who have a game in hand on Arsenal, need to win five of their last six games to be certain of a fifth title in six seasons.
With Haaland’s goal spree showing no signs of slowing, few would bet against them taking advantage of Arsenal’s collapse.
Arsenal, winless in their last four games, host Chelsea on Tuesday, with City back in action at home to West Ham on Wednesday.
In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s crucial 4-1 demolition of Arsenal, Guardiola had dismissed suggestions the title race was over.
History-making Haaland
Guardiola reminded his players they were held to a surprise draw at Nottingham Forest in their next match after beating Arsenal in February. It was a warning that had the desired affect, even without Kevin De Bruyne, who was missing due to an injury.
City took just three minutes to move ahead in west London as Riyad Mahrez found Alvarez in the Fulham area and the Argentine forward was flattened by Tim Ream’s clumsy challenge. History in his sights, Haaland took the ball with a determined look and confidently drove his penalty low past Bernd Leno.
Fulham broke out to snatch an equaliser against the run of play in the 15th minute.
Harry Wilson’s pass found Vinicius and the Brazilian took advantage of City’s sloppy marking to drill a powerful finish past Ederson from 10 yards.
Manchester united defeated Aston Villa
In the span of eight days, Manchester United reached the FA Cup final and further cemented a Premier League top-four spot with yesterday’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa to cap what manager Erik ten Hag called “a brilliant week”. Yet the Dutchman, who already guided United to the League Cup this season, brushed aside questions about the success he has had in his first year as manager, saying it was a “brilliant week” for his team but there is plenty of football left to play.
“This question I think you have to wait until it’s done,” Ten Hag said. “We have to keep going, from game to game, but I think this is a brilliant week for us.”
United defeated Brighton 7-6 in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup semifinals last Sunday and then played Tottenham to a 2-2 league draw, but Ten Hag was critical of his side after that game for giving up a two-goal lead.
He was pleased with their response against Villa. “When you are in a semifinal in a tough game against a good opponent we have seen in the week, we played a very good game to get through to the final,” the Dutchman said.
“And then Tottenham, we played the first half very well. And today we played two halves, I think an impressive game. So big credits to the team.”
Bruno Fernandes scored Sunday’s lone goal — and the 100th league goal of his career — six minutes before halftime. Against Brighton a week earlier, he picked up what looked to be a significant ankle injury that had made him a doubt against Tottenham.
But the 28-year-old Portugal international did not sit out, and when asked what that says about his resilience, Ten Hag said “A lot.”
Wilson double puts Newcastle on brink of Champions League
Newcastle United look almost certain to be playing in the Champions League next season after Callum Wilson’s double saw them come from a goal down to beat bottom club Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League on yesterday.
Third-placed Newcastle were rocked shortly before halftime when Stuart Armstrong put the visitors ahead. But Newcastle, who have not played in the Champions League for two decades, dominated the second half with substitute Wilson making an immediate impact with a tap-in goal. He then had another disallowed for offside, but Southampton’s relief was short-lived as an own goal by Theo Walcott put Eddie Howe’s side in front.
Two minutes later Wilson, who had come on at halftime, sealed the points after being played in by Alexander Isak.
Jota seals thrilling win for Liverpool
Diogo Jota scored a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool clinched a barely-believable 4-3 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur to bolster their hopes of qualifying for Europe on yesterday.
Liverpool had led 3-0 inside the opening 15 minutes as for the second successive Sunday Tottenham’s defence crumbled, but the visitors stormed back and substitute Richarlison’s stoppage-time header appeared to have earned his side an unlikely point.
But Jota, also on as a substitute, punished a mistake by Lucas Moura to break Tottenham’s hearts and fire Liverpool over the Londoners into fifth place in the table.
A chaotic first half was only three minutes old when Curtis Jones put the hosts in front and two minutes later Tottenham’s defence crumbled again as Luis Diaz volleyed home.
When Mohamed Salah blasted a penalty high into the net in the 15th minute Tottenham seemed on course for a repeat of the horror show at Newcastle United last Sunday when they conceded five times in the opening 21 minutes in a 6-1 hammering. — Supersport.
Online Reporter