Manchester Metropolis prevailed in a nine-goal feast at Fulham because of the type of attacking show that might usually have title rivals quaking of their boots.
Sadly for Pep Guardiola’s aspect, Metropolis’s defensive show may have had those self same rivals sighing with aid.
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Metropolis led 5-1 early within the second half after a a centesimal Premier League purpose for Erling Haaland, a Phil Foden double, one from Tijjani Reijnders, and Sander Berge’s personal purpose. They had been seemingly cruising in direction of victory by a good-looking margin.
However Fulham, led by substitute Samuel Chukwueze, hit again with three unanswered objectives and even had one effort cleared off the road in stoppage time as they got here near finishing one of many nice comebacks.
Metropolis had been on the ropes and nearly absorbing photographs as they clung on for the factors.
“I used to be near scoring after which they went and made it 5-3, in order that’s soccer, that is the fantastic thing about soccer,” mentioned Haaland.
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“That is why we love the sport.”
The highly effective Norwegian’s feat of reaching 100 objectives in 111 Premier League video games is the quickest the century has been achieved within the competitors, and he weighed in with two assists too.
However Metropolis went from being a aspect who seemed as if they might preserve scoring, to being a bunch nearly begging the ultimate whistle to come back.
Guardiola joked afterwards: “I am so previous, and the gamers do not respect me! They do not must deal with their supervisor in that means.
“It solely occurs on this league.”
By holding on, the win put Metropolis two factors behind leaders Arsenal, though they knew that hole would improve to 5 once more if Mikel Arteta’s aspect had been to win their recreation in hand in opposition to Brentford on Wednesday.
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The statistics behind a loopy encounter
Manchester Metropolis’s win at Fulham may have been an excellent look ahead to the impartial, with the statistics highlighting simply what a thriller – and weird outcome – it was:
It was Fulham’s first top-flight recreation that includes 9 or extra objectives since a 7-2 loss at West Ham in February 1968, and their first at dwelling since a 6-3 loss to Aston Villa in September 1965.
This was the forty first time from 356 Premier League video games beneath Pep Guardiola that Manchester Metropolis had scored no less than 5 objectives.
It’s the first time Metropolis have gained a league match through which they conceded as many as 4 objectives since December 1957 – a 5-4 victory in opposition to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
This was the sixth Premier League recreation involving Manchester Metropolis to see no less than 9 objectives scored, with solely Manchester United (seven) being concerned in additional.
How regarding is Man Metropolis’s defending?
Whereas it was a recreation that actually delivered within the leisure stakes, Manchester Metropolis’s followers may have seen there must be enhancements on the again if Guardiola’s aspect are to actually problem leaders Arsenal.
Metropolis’s attacking power shouldn’t be in query – their first 4 photographs on the right track resulted in objectives on this recreation, whereas each Haaland and Foden are within the type of kind this season that may make nearly any group within the Premier League battle to cease them.
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However whereas their play going ahead has actually been worthy of title winners, their defence is lagging means behind.
Arsenal have conceded simply seven objectives in 13 video games within the Premier League, however Metropolis have let in additional than double that with 16 in simply 14 video games.
It’s uncommon for Metropolis in a title-winning marketing campaign to have conceded as many as that at this stage of the season, occurring as soon as – 2023-24- in Guardiola’s six Premier League title-winning seasons.
“You may’t anticipate to win the Premier League whenever you defend like that,” former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
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“There’s an issue with Manchester Metropolis defensively. I’ve mentioned all of it season that we all know they’ll rating objectives, no hassle with them the best way they are going ahead, however defensively they must be higher.
“They must be higher defensively since you’d by no means see Arsenal be 5-1 up and finish like that, so that they must type that out.”
Guardiola ‘involved’ however can see positives
Manchester Metropolis have conceded 10 objectives of their newest 4 video games in all competitions, however within the 4 video games previous to that they conceded simply three.
That may give Guardiola hope that the current defensive frailties might be rectified, and the previous Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach even thinks the current drawback on the again might assist his aspect by focusing minds.
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“In fact I used to be involved [Fulham could come back], however this can assist us in future video games,” Guardiola mentioned.
“Each recreation is a brand new group for some gamers. You must make a course of to begin to right.
“There have been some actually constructive issues in what we’ve got finished – to come back right here, to attain 5 objectives, and the best way we performed in that first half.
“In the long run, it was a query of character, resilience and defence. They did what they needed to do.”