It was never to be an easy task facing the three-time reigning Premier League champions who are just now two wins away from a fourth following their 4-0 win over Fulham. However, Marco Silva’s side did not let them get away with the three points easily.
City began their attack immediately but it was not long before Fulham were able to offer threats of their own with Pereira and Robinson creating beautiful play up the left-hand side to threaten City’s well-manufactured defensive line-up.
However, as is so easily the way with Pep Guardiola’s squad, a moment of weakness from the opposition is quickly and efficiently pounced on and Josko Gvardiol wasted no time in making the most of a free flank, running up the left-wing, working his way effortlessly through a scouring Fulham defence and, after a quick pass back to Kevin de Bruyne, Gvardiol eased the ball past Bernd Leno to put the Cityzens one step closer to that Premier League trophy.
Fulham were not to let their visitors get away with simplicity for the remaining 30 minutes of the first-half but, despite well-worked football between the boxes, an answer to Gvardiol could not be found.
Two changes on the break for Fulham with Tom Cairney and an enigmatic Adama Traore replacing tha lacklustre duo of Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid and it looked as if the Cottager’s number eleven could well be the answer to Silva’s prayers.
But alas, after waiting patiently while Fulham enjoyed their moment of fun, the Sky Blues would take no prisoners and a lose ball was quickly picked up by the England international Phil Foden who powered it home. Gvardial then doubled his own efforts, however accidentally he might have meant it, but the final nail in the coffin would come on the brink of the final whistle with Issa Diop sent off for a second bookable offence with Julien Alvarez scoring from the spot to give Guardiola’s squad an imperious 4-0 win.
They have just two wins to go to be the first side ever to win four consecutive Premier League trophies. Here are LondonWorld’s player ratings following the Cottagers’ 4-0 defeat...
1. GK: Bernd Leno
5/10: Made some excellent saves but should have easily stopped Gvardiol's, and City's third, goal. | Getty Images
2. RB: Timothy Castagne
5/10: Not the finest man in the Fulham defence today but offered snippets of tackling excellence on the wing - unfortunately just not enough. | Getty Images
3. CB: Issa Diop
6/10: An unfortunate end to what had been the best defensive performance for Fulham. A second bookable offence saw Diop sent off in the closing minutes of the game but he had previously provided several crucial touches to deny City's chances. | Getty Images
4. CB: Calvin Bassey
5/10: Struggled to gain composure quickly enough after conceding, making several silly errors. | Getty Images