Fulham vs Man City score, result, highlights as Haaland ties goal record for new Premier League leaders

CRAVEN COTTAGE, LONDON — Manchester City rose to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday afternoon. 

The reigning champions were in rampant form, having dispatched title rivals Arsenal in midweek to make it 10 straight domestic wins, and continued their red-hot form on the banks of the Thames despite the absence of superstar playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. 

Fulham vs Man City result

Erling Haaland opened the scoring within four minutes, converting from the penalty spot after Julian Alvarez was fouled by Tim Ream in the area. That strike took the Norwegian to 34 for the Premier League campaign, tying the all-time record jointly-held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole. 

City began to purr, with Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish causing havoc at will while the midfield battle was being dominated by John Stones and Rodri with ease. Mahrez, who had an enjoyable battle with the energetic Antonee Robinson, in particular was fantastic, both in his incisive breaks into the box and his tracking back to win possession.

Yet, Fulham bit back. Harry Wilson nodded down a long ball into the path of Carlos Vinicius, and the Brazilian striker lashed home with his left boot to lift the roof off the old place. Fulham’s momentum was disrupted by a potentially-serious arm injury for Tim Ream, though, and City began to dictate once again. 

Grealish cut in from the left to curl a second effort of the game with his right foot, but Leno superbly tipped it onto the bar. Alvarez, the man who replaced De Bruyne in the starting XI, then restored the visitors’ lead with an incredible effort from outside the area. 

The Argentina international kept hold of the ball under pressure from two onrushing defenders, wriggled into a few yards of space and then unleashed a sublime effort from outside the box, which flew high beyond Leno and into the top left corner. 

Fulham’s injury situation worsened after the interval, as key man Andreas Pereira was forced off on a stretcher. The extended period spent on the ground, the great care taken by the physio not to move his right leg and the anguish on his face suggested a potential break. 

The second half ticked by without many presentable chances at all, though Fulham fans and Kenny Tete did their best to spark some life into proceedings. The Craven Cottage support wound up Grealish throughout, and Tete eventually engineered a screaming match and face-off on the near touchline which saw both men booked. 

It was to no avail, though, as City held on to their 2-1 lead. The Sky Blues have a one-point lead at the summit and still with a game in hand over Arsenal, while Fulham remain comfortably in 10th. 

Erling Haaland’s key stats 

Almost just to spite those who claimed he was purely a poacher who offered little as an all-round player, making City a poorer team than last term, Haaland continued his brilliant linkup play from midweek in the first half. He teed up two scoring chances for his teammates in that period, up on his season average of one per 90 minutes. 

Typically strong with his holdups from aerial balls, even getting a pass away while being strangled by Issa Diop at one point, Haaland struggled to get into the game as much on the floor in the second half as Fulham came back into it, though his 14 passes completed was three up on his season average. 

Of course, the most important numbers come by the way of his goal. It was his 34th in the Premier League, tying the single-season record since the division’s 1992 rebrand. However, the previous holders, Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, played in an era of 42-game seasons. The 22-year-old’s total has come in just 30 matches. 

The strike was his 50th goal of the season across all competitions, with his half-century coming in 44 games. Haaland becomes the first player since Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring in 1930/31 to hit that landmark figure while playing in England. 

Haaland now sits 13 goals behind Everton icon Dixie Dean’s all-time English record of 63 in a season. The City No.9 potentially has 10 more opportunities to net — six league games, an FA Cup final, and three games in the Champions League, if City make the final. 

When will Man City clinch the title? 

Vinicius’ strike will have given Arsenal some brief optimism, but the chances of a title win for Mikel Arteta’s men are now even more remote. 

The maximum points total for Arsenal is 90. City are now on 76 with six games to play and a far superior goal difference. 

This means City need five more victories to guarantee the title no matter what, but can realistically afford to draw two games if they win the other four. 

Given the last pair of dropped points for Pep Guardiola’s side came back in February, and their penchant for building barely-believable winning streaks during the run-in on an annual basis, even a single draw would be something of a surprise. 

MORE: Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne explain secret to beating Arsenal

Fulham vs Man City highlights, goal updates

FULL-TIME: It ends 2-1 to the reigning champions in west London. 

90th min: Following the injury to Pereira, there will be an eight-minute chunk of added time. 

70th min: The game has sparked into life over the last few minutes, following a waved-off penalty appeal. Grealish and Tete have a flashpoint on the sideline after a tangle of legs, with the Fulham man leaning over his opponent and shouting, drawing a furious reaction and face-off. Both men are booked. 

58th min: Fulham are having no luck with injuries here, as a second man is forced off after a worryingly long pause. The physios have been extremely careful with the right leg of Andreas Pereira, who leaves on a stretcher with his head in his hands. Tom Cairney replaces him. 

46th min: We’re back underway with no changes at the break. 

HALF-TIME: City lead 2-1 at the interval. 

36th min: GOAL! City are back in front thanks to a sensational finish from Alvarez. The Argentina international keeps hold of the ball under pressure from two onrushing defenders, wriggles into a few yards of space and then unleashes an effort from outside the box, which flies high beyond Leno and into the top left corner. 

*Video available in UK: 

Julián Álvarez, that is incredible 🤤🪄 pic.twitter.com/2mdJq1vkKE

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2023

*Video available in USA: 

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 30, 2023

22nd min: A potentially serious injury to the arm of Ream, who is caught by Alvarez’s boot as the American goes to ground. After several minutes of treatment, he’s forced off and Diop takes his place. 

15th min: GOAL! Fulham equalise! Totally against the run of play and moments after a presentable chance for Grealish as City began to purr, the hosts are level. A long, searching ball finds Wilson in the area, who nods it down first time to Vinicius. The Brazilian smashes it in superbly with his left, leaving compatriot Ederson no chance. 1-1. 

*Video available in UK: 

Vinicius HAMMERS home an equalizer! ⬜☄️ pic.twitter.com/wLbC2yKDW9

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2023

*Video available in USA: 

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 30, 2023

4th min: GOAL! Haaland dispatches the penalty with his left foot to Leno’s left, giving the reigning champions a perfect start in West London. It’s his 34th Premier League goal of the campaign, tying the all-time record jointly held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, though their totals came in 42-game seasons. 

*Video available in UK: 

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2023

*Video available in USA: 

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 30, 2023

2nd min: Penalty to Man City. Alvarez, in for De Bruyne, is fouled in the middle of the area by Ream. 

Fulham vs Man City lineups

Fulham starting XI (4-2-3-1): Leno (GK) — Tete, Tosin, Ream, Robinson — Reed, Palhinha — Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Wilson — Vinicius

Fulham subs: Rodak (GK), Kebano, Cairney, Solomon, Lukic, Duffy, Soares, Diop, James

Man City starting XI (3-2-4-1): Ederson (GK) — Walker, Dias, Akanji — Stones, Rodri — Mahrez, Gundogan, Alvarez, Grealish — Haaland

Man City subs: Carson (GK), Laporte, Phillips, Ortega, Silva, Gomez, Foden, Rodriguez, Lewis

MORE: Remaining Man City fixtures as champions eye third straight title in 2023

Fulham vs Man City live stream, TV channel