MATCH REPORT AND PLAYER RATINGS - FULHAM 0-4 MANCHESTER CITY

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Manchester City brushed Fulham aside to go within two wins of completing an unprecedented Premier League fourpeat, thanks to a brace and overall exceptional performance from Josko Gvardiol.

The 22 year old scored his fifth goal in seven games for City, after finishing off a team move in style with a brilliant touch and finish, before scoring again to seal the game at the backpost in the second half by sliding the ball into the net following a Bernardo Silva cross from the right.

In between these two goals, Phil Foden grabbed his 25th goal of the season by picking up on a loose ball and finishing low into the bottom corner with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area.

The rout was finished late on by substitute Julian Alvarez, who slotted home a penalty late on in injury time after he was fouled in the penalty area by Issa Diop, who was shown a second yellow card for his troubles.

There was a call for Gvardiol to take the penalty and become the first ever defender to score a hattrick in the Premier League, but he selflessly passed up the opportunity to allow the Argentinian to score his 19th goal of the season in all competitions.

The result leaves City with the Premier League title in their hands, but with famous bogey fixture Tottenham Hotspur away and West Ham United at home to come before the Blues can think about lifting their fourth successive Premier League title.

The main -and only real - negative coming from the demolition of Marco Silva's side is an apparent injury to Nathan Ake, who was replaced after 20 minutes following an apparent muscular complaint after sliding in to make a block.

The Dutch defender had seemingly cemented his place in City's first choice back four alongside Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker, so it's a disappointment to see him suffer another injury setback.

However, with last season's centre back partnership of Ruben Dias and John Stones both fresh and waiting in the ranks for such circumstances, City are in no less of a strong position defensively in Ake's absence.

A change in system for City, in which we see Gvardiol go high and wide from left back, Foden tuck into attacking midfield next to Kevin de Bruyne and Mateo Kovacic (and sometimes Bernardo with Walker going high and wide on the right) sit deep next to Rodri, has borne fruit for City in recent games, but it leaves out Stones.

The 29 year old has been one of City's most important players consistently since 2021, but the system doesn't suit a defender pushing into midfield at the moment, but that's not to say he doesn't have his uses until the end of the season.

Stones is perfectly comfortable with operating as a regular ball playing centre back, and it'd be interesting to see him play as the more attacking minded right back to showcase his technical ability and fulfil a role similar to Gvardiol on the other side.

Now is not the time for experimentation, however, and it'd be a much better bet for City to see out the season with players playing in their natural and tried positions.

Up next against Ange Postecoglou's out of form Tottenham side, City will be confident of overcoming their woes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and taking a giant leap towards the Premier League title on the final day.

Here are the player ratings from the victory at Craven Cottage: Ederson - 6.5/10 - With only one shot to face in the entire match, Ederson had little to do, other than play a few good passes of the ball from the back to help City progress up the pitch.

Akanji - 6.5/10 - Started the game poorly playing in a peculiar inverted right back role, but improved after Ake's injury on the left of a back three in possession.

Dias - 7.5/10 - Really solid performance from Dias on his return to the XI, more or less cementing his place in the side against Tottenham on Tuesday if we can assume Ake is unfit.

Ake - 6.5/10 - Had a good start to the game before being replaced with an injury that we can only hope isn't too serious ahead of City's push for the domestic double.

Gvardiol - 9.5/10 - A sensational performance from a sensational player, who only seems to be getting better and better as his City career progresses. Having added goals and assists to his game in recent weeks, Gvardiol has become a player City can rely on in big moments at the end of the season.

Rodri - 8/10 - Excellent as per usual in the centre of midfield at sweeping up the play and helping City keep possession of the ball.

Kovacic - 8/10 - Alongside Rodri, Kovacic worked hard in midfield to help City keep control of the game with excellent technical ability in tight areas to pull Fulham's midfielders out of position.

Bernardo - 8.5/10 - Pulled his weight with two assists and a typical dynamic and hardworking performance on the right wing.

De Bruyne - 7/10 - Linked up well with Gvardiol for City's first goal in an otherwise quiet afternoon for the Belgian.

Foden - 7.5/10 - Like De Bruyne, Foden was quiet for a lot of the game as Fulham attempted to suffocate City centrally, but cropped up with a sublime finish to leave his mark on the game and justify his recent Football Writers' Player of the Season Award.

Haaland - 7/10 - His build up play was very good and he kept the Fulham defenders busy, but he missed a huge chance in the second period that you'd expect him to bury nine times out of ten.

Substitutes:

Walker - 7/10 - Locked down Fulham's left hand side, which was causing City problems in the early part of the game before the 33 year old entered the pitch.

Doku - 6.5/10 - Showed his remarkable acceleration running into space a few times in an otherwise quiet cameo as City saw the game out.

Bobb - 6.5/10 - Had a few good touches of the ball on the right hand side in his brief time on the pitch.

Alvarez - 7/10 - Won and dispatched a penalty late on to finish the job off for City.

Lewis - 6.5/10 - Battled aggressively and got stuck in, linking up well with Bobb a few times late on.