Manchester City 3-0 Fulham Review

Premier League GW26

After a huge win away from home, it’s normal that the team will feel a drop of some kind, but you still need to pick yourself up and win the next game. From the first minute, with the pressing, Manchester City set the tone, and could have been out of sight within ten minutes. Another second half highlighted where the team needs to improve, but in the end, it was job done, and now the team has a platform to build on for the rest of this season.

MOTM: MARC GUEHI

Apart from one hairy moment, dribbled past near the halfway line, this was the type of performance from a defender that you can lean on in the moments where it’s needed. When you think about the ‘suffering’ that the treble team had to do during that season in some Champions League games, Marc Guehi has shown he’s got those qualities.

Excellent with his 1v1 defending inside the box, on his toes, denying space, and making himself big for the blocks. In the right position to make interceptions, to be first for a loose ball that needs to be cleared, and able to be composed in the moments where an extra touch is needed, and you can play out of those situations.

It also strikes me how much of a great role model he’s going to be for Khusanov to learn off, for Vitor Reis and Max Alleyne, depending on which young defenders are part of the squad, along with another leader in Ruben Dias.

Other standout performances include: Nico O’Reilly, Antoine Semenyo, and Rayan Ait-Nouri

Notable Stats:

• Since the start of last season, Antoine Semenyo has been directly involved in seven goals against Fulham in the Premier League (4 goals, 3 assists). Only one player has more goal involvements against an opponent in this period: Erling Haaland v West Ham (8)

• Only Erling Haaland (5) has scored more braces at home in the Premier League this season than Igor Thiago (4).

• Antoine Semenyo is the first player to score in each of his first two home appearances for Man City in the Premier League since Kevin De Bruyne back in October 2015.

Game Stats:

Manchester City 3-0 Fulham

• xG: 1.92 - 1.03

• xThreat: 0.97 - 0.93

• Possession: 55.6% - 44.4%

• Field Tilt: 51.4% - 48.6%

• Penalty Box Shots: 4 - 12

• Deep Entries: 4 - 7

• PPDA: 10.2 - 15.8

• High Turnovers: 8 - 3

First start together for Marc Guehi and Ruben Dias, who kept a clean sheet. Manchester City has kept 17 clean sheets so far this season, and Ruben Dias has started 12 of those.

Rayan Ait-Nouri made his fifth consecutive start for Manchester City. His longest run in the team this season.

Antoine Semenyo has started 5/5 Premier League games since joining the team in January. The only City winger with a longer run in the team this season was Jeremy Doku (6). Savinho (4). Bobb (3).

If you want to stay up-to-date on individual player minutes, back four combinations, underlying numbers, and more, check out the live Google sheet below. 👇

Same midfield trio from the game against Liverpool, as Phil Foden comes in for Marmoush, and Ruben Dias for Khusanov. Full-backs holding the width on either side. Semenyo and Haaland are occupying each central defender. Silva, Foden, and O’Reilly all moved between the lines, dropping outside the block at times.

One example is Silva coming across to the right side, pinning the LB Sessegnon, and leaving Nunes free to receive a switch from Rodri. Which we saw in the lead-up to the opening goal.

The intensity of the press was notable from the first minute, Semenyo especially, aggressively covering the ground to pressure Leno and force goal-kicks. Fulham did try to play out from the back at times, and that led to several high turnovers for Manchester City, which they failed to capitalize on. In the first half, in the final third, Semenyo blocked two passes. Foden, Nunes, and Rodri all had a ball recovery each.

Semenyo would curve his run from left to right, pushing Fulham away from Andersen, who can hit excellent long passes, and forced them to either go long with Leno or play short through the press on the right side. Nunes jumps to Sessegnon, Foden moves inside to track Iwobi, and Silva is tight to Berge. Rodri is then tracking ESR, and is in a position to read when to jump and intercept high up the pitch.

Lots of half-chances to start the game, coming off the high press, as well as finding Nunes free on the right side. Foden has a shot in the middle of the box. O’Reilly with two shots outside the box. Volley for Foden off a corner.

A. Semenyo 24' 1-0
The opening goal begins with Manchester City in settled possession, Rodri playing a long pass out to Nunes. His cross to Haaland at the back-post is missed, but it comes off a Fulham player, heading back to goal, and Semenyo is in the right position and first to react.

Two struggles for the team at points during last season, as well as during the 23/24 season, were getting enough players inside the box around Erling Haaland and having other genuine threats in the air. Now you've got O'Reilly and Semenyo trying to win that ball.

For Semenyo, this is his 13th goal in the Premier League this season. Only Haaland (22) and Thiago (17) have scored more. Across all competitions for Manchester City, Semenyo has 7 goal contributions (5G, 2A) in 8 starts.

Decent chance for Wilson (29’) after Fulham plays through the press of City, Jimenez pulling out wide to the touchline, finding ESR, who passes it onto Wilson, but Donnarumma gets a hand to it.

N. O'Reilly 30' 2-0
The goal begins with Manchester City dealing with a ball played over the top by Fulham. Foden and Silva are tracking back to recover the ball and playing short passes around with Nunes. Then the space opens up for him to utilize his quality of carrying the ball.

Nunes drives forward with the ball and finds Erling Haaland inside, dropping to receive, and laying it off for Nico O'Reilly. Quickly out of his feet and to Semenyo, who you'll notice in this game spent the majority of the time high as the outlet, whilst Haaland was the one dropping between the two.

What you'll also notice is the team having players like Nunes, O'Reilly, and Semenyo making runs ahead of Erling Haaland into the box, who can all cover the long distances in transition. Turning this situation into a 3v3. Quite the difference from City in the previous couple of seasons.

From there, we see the underlapping run of O'Reilly into the box, a well-timed pass by Semenyo, and then a chipped finish to take it past the keeper. O'Reilly is now on 9 goal contributions (4G 5A) this season across all competitions after providing 7 last season.

Also worth noting, and we'll see more of this with time, is that Semenyo is excellent at making these passes into the box. At Manchester City, he'll get more opportunities to play them, and from different angles.

E. Haaland 39' 3-0
The third goal begins with Manchester City pressing Fulham off a goal-kick. Aggressive curved run from Semenyo. Forcing them to go long. Guehi is competing for the aerial duel.

O'Reilly and Silva aren't able to win the second ball after Guehi wins the aerial duel, but Ait-Nouri pounces onto a loose touch by Fulham. He's then able to drive forward into the space and find Foden between the lines. Quick turn and pass inside to Haaland. Touch with his right, shifted onto his left, and finished across the keeper to the bottom right corner.

For Erling Haaland, that's his 22nd PL goal of the season, equaling his tally from last season with 12 games left to play. For Manchester City, that is the 8th goal they've scored via a fast break this season in the PL. Only Brentford (9) has scored more.

Jimenez (42’), with the best chance for Fulham across the game, came from a Guehi header picked up by Wilson, as no City midfield had gotten back, and then Jimenez runs off the back of Ait-Nouri, not tracked. His chip back across the goal is wide and too far in front of ESR to get on the end of. Jimenez (45’) had another chance just before the end of the half.

As far as first halves go for Manchester City this season, that was one of the best we’ve had. The intensity in the pressing, forcing high turnovers, limited Fulham to little outside of the Wilson shot saved and the Jimenez chance chipped across the goal. In possession, the team found a great balance of when to control the tempo and when they need to be more vertical in their passing from back-to-front.

Haaland came off at half-time for Marmoush. He looked a little bothered in the celebrations for the third goal, but continued for the rest of the half. Niggles was the response of Guardiola when asked about it post-match, so I’d imagine it’s a precautionary change, rather than a significant injury. Likely has plenty of time to rest with the FA Cup game against Salford this weekend.

Jimenez (53’) has a chance early in the second half, and not long after that, Ait-Nouri makes an excellent tackle from behind on the edge of the box to stop Wilson getting a shot off, after a loose touch by Guehi leads to him through to the goal. Foden has a good chance from the edge of the box after this. Marmoush cutting inside, his loose touch fell for him to strike, but Leno makes the save at the far-post.

Khusanov and Reijnders on for Nunes and Silva (60’), which was needed with both of those starting to flag. Nunes had some loose touches out wide whilst Fulham were pushing to try get into the game.

Triple sub by Fulham with Kevin, Muniz, and King coming on for Chukwueze, Jimenez, and ESR (60’). That was Silva’s attempt to change it up and to try to get back into the game, and rather than ESR dropping deep, you had Josh King often staying high to give them 4v4 against the City backline should they recover the ball.

Cherki and Nico came on for Foden and Rodri (71’). The latter looked to be tiring towards the end of the second half, which is to be expected after his return from injury and the game last Sunday against Liverpool. A couple of mistimed passes, but mainly not arriving in duels with the same speed he would in the first. Foden was very fortunate not to be sent off for his challenge earlier, so the right call was not to risk the second yellow.

Fulham had a flurry of chances late in injury time with King (90’+3), Bobb (90’+4), and Tete (90’+4). Two of those are from the corners. Important save and block late to keep the clean sheet.

There have been second halves in which Manchester City struggled this season, and not all of them involve teams going M2M with their press high up the pitch. As we saw against Fulham, this was Rodri losing the ball on the halfway line, Nunes on the touchline misplacing his passes back inside, and O’Reilly slow to win a second ball. Along with mistakes by others.

Now, you’re going to expect some drop off after that big game against Liverpool, you’re going to see players flag, and when you’re 3-0, there isn’t going to be the same intensity in the press like at the start of the game. But you cannot be sloppy in possession. The basics, to use a line from Fabian Delph, they’ve got to be clean and tidy on the ball. You’ve got to win your duels. Otherwise, you will give the opposition team an opening.

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Moving Forward

As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s crucial to follow up the big game win with another, and not let that work all be wasted. Don’t let the momentum and good feeling from that late winner immediately fall away. The intent to win with their press from the first minute was there, an exceptional first half, and certainly a more stable performance in the second. Defensively, that can be leaned on.

In the next games, they’ve got to persist with the improvements in the second half. To eliminate the sloppy moments in possession. To better sync up their movements when playing through an opposition pressing you high. They’ll now get the time on the training pitch between games, and have the squad back now to keep everyone sharp. It’s about finding the consistency in the performances back-to-back, as all is still to play for if they can smell it.

Aside from the challenge, which Foden was fortunate not be sent off for, given previous precedents set, I thought this was a good step in the right direction from him. Touch unfortunate not to find the back of the net on one of those shots. Makes a difficult pass like easy, receiving on the half-turn, to assist Erling Haaland. More intensity on and off the ball. Not his best, and he won’t go straight to that level, but it’s what we needed to see heading into the back end of this season.

John Stones was on the bench and at the weekend could play some minutes. Jeremy Doku and Savinho won’t be far behind now. Two options the team needs off the bench, and in the case of Doku, likely a starter for most of the remaining games.

Next up for Manchester City is Salford City in the FA Cup on Saturday, the 14th of February at 15:00 (UK). Chance to progress to the next round at home, whilst giving minutes to some of the players further down the pecking order. A chance for John Stones to get his first minutes back from injury. Erling Haaland to rest. Perhaps another opportunity for a young player like McAidoo to shine.

After that, it’s a full week break before Newcastle (H) on the 21st of February. Despite beating them in the League Cup, and the record against them in the Premier League. They must arrive at that game with the same intensity we saw against Liverpool last weekend.

When you’re looking at the next run of Premier League games that include Newcastle (H), Leeds (A), Forest (H), and West Ham (A). That’s a real opportunity to put together a winning run, if you’re serious about competing for the League title. None of those will come easily as three are fighting relegation.