Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 3-0 Fulham (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City followed up their dramatic win at Anfield with a composed and clinical 3-0 victory over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium, tightening the pressure on league leaders Arsenal in the process.

Goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland sealed the points in a commanding first-half display that showcased City’s attacking precision and structural control.

Although Fulham improved after the break and dictated phases of the second-half, City’s defensive resilience and game management ensured a clean sheet and reduced the gap at the top to three points.

Coming into this fixture after an intensely fought and dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, Manchester City had the opportunity to reduce the gap to three points with Arsenal, who will play Brentford on Thursday night.

Pep Guardiola made two changes to his starting lineup from Merseyside, with Ruben Dias and Phil Foden replacing Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush respectively.

Antoine Semenyo joined Erling Haaland up front, while Rodri and Nico O’Reilly were tasked with playing in their deeper midfield roles.

John Stones made a much-awaited welcome return to the matchday squad for the first time since featuring as a substitute in City’s aforementioned win at Fulham earlier this season.

Manchester City began the game in their usual style of dominating possession with Rodri dropping deep. Full-backs Ait Nouri and Nunes pushed up, hugging the touchline to provide width, as Semenyo and Foden drifted inside, playing behind Haaland.

Haaland and Foden both had their shots blocked within the first 10 minutes as City ramped up pressure on the Fulham backline, with Fulham defender Joachim Andersen making crucial blocks on each of the occasions.

Phil Foden had another opportunity to give City the lead in the 10th minute, as some neat interplay between Nunes and Bernardo Silva saw Foden find himself at the receiving end of a cutback inside the Fulham box. However, goalkeeper Bernd Leno easily collected his low right-footed shot.

Nico O’Reilly had two opportunities to shoot at Leno’s goal, but both of his long-range shots were wide and over the upright, respectively.

However, Antoine Semenyo, continuing his impressive form, gave Manchester City the lead in the 24th minute.

Sander Berge inadvertently knocked down Nunes’ cross inside the box, straight into Semenyo’s path, who made no mistake in guiding it home. This was Semenyo’s fourth goal against Fulham. City led 1-0.

Fulham looked to respond sharply, with Raul Jimenez and Smith Rowe combining to find Harry Wilson at the edge of the box, whose shot was saved by Donnarumma.

From the resulting counterattack, Man City embodied a ruthless display of attacking precision as Haaland teed up Semenyo, whose surging run culminated with finding O’Reilly inside the Fulham box.

O’Reilly stayed composed and calmly finished the chance by lifting the ball over an onrushing Leno, making it 2-0 for Manchester City.

Manchester City looked to be in simply an unforgiving mood as Erling Haaland made it 3-0 in the 39th minute.

Neat interplay between Ait Nouri and Foden saw the English international find Haaland at the edge of the box, who made no mistake in guiding the ball into the bottom corner with his first proper attempt of the match.

Silva was shown a yellow card for a lunge on Jimenez in the 41st minute. Fulham’s best opportunity of opening their account came in the 42nd minute as Wilson slipped Jimenez in behind, whose first-time pass beat Donnarumma, but Smith Rowe was unable to put it in the back of the net.

Manchester City ended the first half being 3-0 up, producing a dominant performance coupled with efficient finishing.

Fulham began the second half brightly with Wilson and Smith Rowe combining and Smith Rowe angling a right-footed shot into the side netting. Jimenez followed soon with his header on a Sessegnon cross looping over the top of the bar.

Ait-Nouri then made a crucial challenge to prevent Smith Rowe from shooting, with Donnarumma collecting the ball safely after an unlikely Guehi giveaway.

Phil Foden had another chance to score, but his low drive across the face of the goal was easily collected by Leno again.

Pep Guardiola made a triple substitution in the 60th minute, seeing the drop in purpose and urgency. Tijjani Reijnders and Abdukodir Khusanov replaced Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes, respectively.

Donnarumma was called into action again in the 70th minute as he made a save at the near post from Muniz.

Guardiola sent in Rayan Cherki for Phil Foden and Nico Gonzalez for Rodri in an effort to change the tempo of the game, which was now dictated by Fulham, as City seemed to have dropped off from their first-half display.

Both Nico and his manager were shown yellow cards – Nico for his sliding challenge on Kevin and Guardiola for showing his dissent over that decision.

However, despite the drop-off in energy and performance levels in the second-half, Manchester City managed to keep a clean sheet and win 3-0 on the night against Fulham, making it to within three points of league leaders Arsenal.

Here are our player ratings from Manchester City’s win against Fulham!

Starting XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 6.5

He made one sharp save from Harry Wilson in the first half, diving low, and another one from Rodrigo Muniz in the second half. He was rarely troubled otherwise, demonstrating another assured performance from the Italian international.

Matheus Nunes – 7

Matheus Nunes was lively and energetic, always ready to provide an overlapping option on the right side. His cross was knocked down by Berge, which led to Semenyo’s opener. He not only provided width and energy but also made some useful tackles to regain possession.

Ruben Dias – 6.5

On his first start since returning from injury, Dias demonstrated a steady return and a disciplined performance. He effectively managed the defence and displayed strength and effectiveness in his ground duels.

Marc Guehi – 7

He carried forward the momentum he had established in his previous performance. Resolute while defending, Guehi has injected a much-needed sense of confidence and authority into the backline, which City will benefit from massively.

Rayan Ait-Nouri – 6

Lively on the ball, he found himself in crucial attacking spaces, which Guardiola will be pleased by. His performance further validated the coach’s confidence in him.

Rodri – 6.5

Decent on the ball, with flashes of his innate skill apparent, especially completing 9/9 long balls in the first half and making multiple recoveries. Not his best performance yet, but the improvement is crystal clear.

Nico O’Reilly – 7.5

Undoubtedly the youngster has slotted in seamlessly in midfield after a long stint at left back. His composed finish, a clever placement in the far corner beyond an onrushing Leno, highlighted the deft touch and calm football brain he possesses. Performances like this will surely merit a place in England’s squad for the World Cup.

Bernardo Silva – 6.5

Except for one lunge that resulted in a booking, he maintained control over the game’s tempo and appeared comfortable.

Antoine Semenyo (POTM) – 8.5

The man of the moment who simply cannot do anything wrong; his Midas touch was in full display as he effectively capitalised on his chances and put the contest to bed in the first half itself. His goal after Berg’s knockdown showed his in-game awareness, while his assist for Nico O’Reilly highlighted his ability to make the correct decisions and take them unselfishly.

Phil Foden – 6.5

He wasted a couple of chances and should have scored with the opportunity that ultimately ended tamely in Leno’s gloves. However, his assist for Haaland showed his innate ability to find incisive passes that can be decisive in turning the outcome of the game.

Erling Haaland – 7.5

Haaland did what he was supposed to do, scoring from the first real opportunity he had, and before that, he teed up Semenyo’s run for the second goal. Substituted at half-time, which could more likely be a precautionary measure.

Substitutes

Omar Marmoush – 6

Performed admirably on the left.

Tijjani Reijnders – 6

Played a crucial role in bringing freshness to the midfield after a 15-minute period at the beginning of the second half, during which Fulham were the dominant side.

Abdukodir Khusanov – 6

Khusanov replaced Nunes at the hour mark and continued where he had left off, displaying maturity and discipline as a right-back for the remainder of the game.

Rayan Cherki – 6

Replaced Foden in the 70th minute and was tasked with finding spaces between Fulham’s midfield lines.

Nico Gonzalez – 6

In the 70th minute, he replaced Rodri in an attempt to bring freshness and composure to the midfield.