Man City go top as Haaland reaches 50-goal mark

Only Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03 (for Manchester United) has a better 100% record for penalties in a Premier League season (eight out of eight) than Haaland in 2022-23, who has scored all seven he has taken

Manchester City beat Fulham to return to the top of the Premier League as Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season in all competitions.

Haaland converted a third-minute penalty, after Julian Alvarez had been fouled by Tim Ream, to become the first top-flight player to reach a half-century of goals in one campaign since Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring did so for Aston Villa in 1931.

The Norwegian striker also moved level for most goals in a Premier League season – matching the 34 goals Andy Cole scored for Newcastle in 1993-94 and the same amount Alan Shearer registered for Blackburn a year later.

However, Fulham grabbed a 15th-minute equaliser with their first attempt of the match as Carlos Vinicius powerfully shot past Ederson after Harry Wilson had headed the ball into his path.

But the hosts could not hang on to record what might have been a remarkable result.

Jack Grealish had an effort pushed on to the crossbar for Manchester City, who regained their lead in the 36th minute through Alvarez’s superb strike from 25 yards out.

City’s win moves them above – and one point clear of – Arsenal, with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand.

This is the first time City have been above Arsenal since mid-February as they aim to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.

Relentless City hunt another league title

Fulham 1-2 Man City: Pep Guardiola praises Haaland for scoring 50th goal in all competitions

This was City’s first match since the 4-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday, which left them in control of the title race as they aim to become English champions for the fifth time in six seasons.

They were without influential midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who Guardiola said “was not feeling good”, while Bernardo Silva was on the bench and Riyad Mahrez and Alvarez were brought into the side.

Alvarez made an instant impact as he was fouled by Ream’s clumsy trip to earn City a penalty, which Haaland scored for his 18th goal in his past 12 matches.

Argentine striker Alvarez, who helped his country win the World Cup in December, grabbed his eighth Premier League goal of the season with a superb strike to restore City’s lead.

They had further chances as both Haaland and Alvarez were denied by smart low stops by Bernd Leno, with Fulham unable to grab an equaliser despite late pressure.

Guardiola’s side, unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions and without a loss since 5 February, have six Premier League games left and need to win five of them to retain their title.

Their next matches are at home to struggling West Ham and Leeds on 3 and 6 May respectively, before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in Spain on 9 May.

Is Fulham’s season running out of steam?

Fulham 1-2 Man City: Marco Silva ‘Fulham showed character to come back against Man City’

Fulham won the Championship last season and were sixth in mid-February, dreaming of qualifying for Europe, before a run of five losses in seven matches before this match at Craven Cottage ended those hopes.

Marco Silva’s side are 10th and aiming for their first top-10 finish in the top flight since 2011-12. They were only behind for 12 minutes following Haaland’s penalty, before Vinicius equalised against the run of play.

Carlos Vinicius scored his third goal in the Premier League this season

But the Cottagers ended up being beaten again as their season looks to be ending on a tame note.

Fulham were still without striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is serving an eight-match ban for pushing a referee in the FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester United in March, with Willian also missing after he injured his hamstring in the warm-up before Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Aston Villa.

Silva’s team suffered another injury blow after only 22 minutes as captain Ream went off with an arm injury, replaced by Issa Diop.

And there was a further setback for Fulham when midfielder Andreas Pereira had to be carried off on a stretcher in the second half following an accidental clash with City defender Manuel Akanji.

Vinicius had a chance to grab an equaliser in the middle of the second half but City goalkeeper Ederson recovered just in time as the striker tried to take the ball around his fellow Brazilian.

Fulham next play away to Liverpool on 3 May (20:00 BST).

Player of the match

HaalandErling Haaland

Fulham

1. Squad number8Player nameWilson

2. Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius

3. Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha

4. Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

5. Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

6. Squad number10Player nameCairney

7. Squad number33Player nameRobinson

8. Squad number17Player nameLeno

9. Squad number13Player nameReam

10. Squad number4Player nameTosin

11. Squad number2Player nameTete

12. Squad number6Player nameReed

13. Squad number11Player nameSolomon

14. Squad number21Player nameJames

15. Squad number31Player nameDiop

16. Squad number28Player nameLukic

Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

17Leno

2Tete4Tosin13Ream33Robinson

6Reed26João Palhinha

8Wilson18Pereira14De Cordova-Reid

30Alves Morais

• 17Leno
• 2TeteBooked at 70mins
• 4Tosin
• 13ReamSubstituted forDiopat 22’minutes
• 33Robinson
• 6ReedSubstituted forLukicat 76’minutes
• 26João Palhinha
• 8WilsonSubstituted forSolomonat 76’minutes
• 18PereiraSubstituted forCairneyat 58’minutes
• 14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forJamesat 76’minutes
• 30Alves Morais

Substitutes

• 1Rodák
• 5Duffy
• 7Kebano
• 10Cairney
• 11Solomon
• 12Cédric Soares
• 21James
• 28Lukic
• 31Diop

Man City

Formation 3-2-4-1

31Ederson

2Walker3Rúben Dias25Akanji

5Stones16Rodri

26Mahrez19Álvarez8Gündogan10Grealish

9Haaland

• 31EdersonBooked at 90mins
• 3Rúben Dias
• 25Akanji
• 2WalkerBooked at 90mins
• 16Rodri
• 19ÁlvarezSubstituted forBernardo Silvaat 83’minutes
• 8Gündogan
• 5Stones
• 9Haaland
• 26MahrezSubstituted forFodenat 83’minutes
• 10GrealishBooked at 70mins

Substitutes

• 4Phillips
• 14Laporte
• 18Ortega
• 20Bernardo Silva
• 21Gómez
• 32Perrone
• 33Carson
• 47Foden
• 82Lewis

Live Text

1. Match ends, Fulham 1, Manchester City 2.

2. Second Half ends, Fulham 1, Manchester City 2.

3. Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Antonee Robinson.

4. Kyle Walker (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.

5. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

6. Foul by Sasa Lukic (Fulham).

7. Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).

8. Kenny Tete (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Ederson (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.

10. Offside, Fulham. Kenny Tete tries a through ball, but Dan James is caught offside.

11. Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).

12. Kenny Tete (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

14. Foul by Sasa Lukic (Fulham).

15. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. Foul by Kenny Tete (Fulham).

17. Foul by Kyle Walker (Manchester City).

18. Tom Cairney (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19. Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).

20. Carlos Vinícius (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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