Mateo Kovacic shines with brace for Man City as Arsenal & Liverpool secure wins

Mateo Kovacic (left) celebrates with Phil Foden after scoring Man City's second goal during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.©Imago

Mateo Kovacic shines with brace for Man City as Arsenal & Liverpool secure wins

Evans Ousuru 20:45 - 05.10.2024

City dominated the early stages before Raul Jimenez's outstanding backheel cross enabled Andreas Pereira to score from close range.

Mateo Kovacic scored twice as Manchester City overcame a dogged Fulham side to pick up their first win in three games, following their 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

City dominated the early stages before Raul Jimenez's outstanding backheel cross enabled Andreas Pereira to score from close range.

Adama Traore missed two big chances either side of that - being denied by Ederson in a one-on-one and then skying a shot from inside the box.

And City midfielder Kovacic, signed from Chelsea, made him pay.

His first was a first-time effort from a half-cleared corner that went in via a deflection.

And his second, shortly into the second half, was a much cleaner strike from the edge of the area.

There was almost a twist, as Traore beat Kyle Walker for pace before again shooting at Ederson.

In fact, City conceded several more chances before Jeremy Doku drifted in from the left and crashed a fantastic strike into the far top corner.

At that stage you thought surely City were home and dry but they left substitute Rodrigo Muniz free in the box to give Fulham renewed hope late on.

But Marco Silva's side could not muster an equaliser.

City are now unbeaten in 50 home games in all competitions, the fourth English top-flight side to ever manage that.

Elsewhere, Diogo Jota's first half strike was all that Liverpool need to power past Crystal Palace in a match that saw The Reds goalkeeper Alisson Baker substituted in the second half after suffering an injury.

Kai Havartz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were also on the scoresheet as The Gunners slayed Southampton 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

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