Manchester City claimed top spot in the Premier League for the first time since February as Erling Haaland reached yet another milestone in a 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday.
It took Haaland only three minutes to score his record-equalling 34th Premier League goal of an extraordinary debut season in England, the Norwegian tucking away a penalty. It saw him match the Premier League’s single-season scoring record of Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
Erling Haaland after Manchester City’s secured the win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
City were pegged back in the 15th minute when Carlos Vinicius rifled a shot past Ederson, but they responded to the setback to carve out a succession of chances.
Jack Grealish was denied by the crossbar before Argentine forward Julian Alvarez produced a moment of magic to beat Bernd Leno with a right-foot shot from outside the area.
City were unable to give themselves a cushion after the break despite several chances and suffered some anxious moments but they held on for an eighth successive league win.
They are now top with 76 points to Arsenal’s 75 and also have one extra game to play.
In the day’s other games, Bournemouth heaped misery on relegation-threatened Leeds with a 4-1 drubbing, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1-0, and Newcastle sealed a 3-1 win over Southampton to move to within touching distance of next season’s the Champions League places.
Callum Wilson’s double saw Newcastle come from a goal down to beat cellar-dwellers Southampton.
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.
In the Scottish Cup, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic beat Rangers 1-0 their semi-final. Celtic will play Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who defeated Falkirk 3-0 on Saturday.
Reuters
