Goal machine Erling Haaland has scored his 50th of the season as Manchester City moved above Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Fulham.
The striker broke the deadlock from the penalty spot inside three minutes at Craven Cottage on Sunday with his record-equalling 34th strike in the Premier League this campaign.
Carlos Vinicius equalised for Fulham before Julian Alvarez’s stunning long-range effort sealed an eighth straight league win for Pep Guardiola’s side, who moved a point clear of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, while also having a game in hand.
Less than 90 seconds had elapsed when referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot after Tim Ream tripped Alvarez, Haaland making no mistake.
Fulham equalised in the 15th minute when Harry Wilson neatly cushioned a lofted ball into the penalty area for Vinicius to fire home on the volley.
But after Bernd Leno tipped Jack Grealish’s curling shot onto the crossbar, City regained the lead in spectacular fashion on 36 minutes, Alvarez whipping a wonderful 25-metre effort into the top-left corner.
At Anfield, Liverpool moved into fifth place after a frankly bizarre late 4-3 win over Tottenham.
A week after conceding five in the opening 21 minutes at Newcastle, history started to repeat itself after another shambolic opening from Spurs, who were 3-0 down inside 15 minutes courtesy of goals from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
The visitors got back on level terms through Harry Kane – equalling Wayne Rooney’s 208-goal Premier League total – Son Heung-min and, in added time, Richarlison with his first Premier League goal for the club.
There was one final twist as straight from the kick-off following Richarlison’s equaliser, Diogo Jota scored his fifth goal in four appearances to snatch victory and stay in the race – albeit outsiders – for the top four, seven points behind Manchester United, having played one match more.
Earlier at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes scored his first Premier League goal in nearly three months as United beat Aston Villa 1-0.
At the other end of the table, Leeds’ relegation fears increased after Jefferson Lerma’s double helped Bournemouth virtually secure their own safety with a vital 4-1 home win.
The Cherries moved level with Chelsea on 39 points and 10 clear of the bottom three after Lerma’s brace was backed up by second-half strikes from Dominic Solanke and Antoine Semenyo.
It all but confirms Bournemouth as a Premier League club next season and continues Gary O’Neil’s excellent debut campaign in the managerial hot seat.
For Leeds it is a very different story with Patrick Bamford’s first-half goal a mere consolation for Javi Gracia’s side, who remain 16th, outside the relegation zone by one point but about to face Manchester City and Newcastle during the next fortnight.
A Callum Wilson double helped third-placed Newcastle beat Southampton 3-1 and plunge the Saints ever closer to the drop as they’re now six points from safety.
Newshttps://www.theroar.com.au/2023/05/01/halaands-half-century-as-city-go-top-liverpool-and-spurs-play-out-insane-seven-goal-thriller/Halaand’s half century as City go top, Liverpool and Spurs play out insane seven goal thriller
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