At least temporarily, Manchester City climbed to the top of the Premier League table, comfortably defeating Luton Town 5-1 to extend their undefeated league record to 17 games (13 wins, four draws).Unbeaten at the Etihad Stadium since November 2022 (21 wins, six draws), City returned to league action following an enthralling 3-3 midweek draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League. Having lost each of their five previous visits to current top-six sides this season, the last thing Luton needed was to fall behind inside two minutes, but that’s exactly the fate they suffered here. After being denied with his initial effort and seeing teammate Jérémy Doku’s follow-up shot blocked, Erling Haaland sent an acrobatic strike into the unfortunate Daiki Hashioka, who turned into his own net.
Predictably, City remained on top thereafter, dominating possession and posing Luton plenty of questions. The hosts probed patiently for the remainder of the half, even striking the far post when Matheus Nunes was slipped in by Kevin De Bruyne, but after a record 51 first-half touches in the opposition box, City headed into the break with just a one-goal advantage.The fastest guy in the Premier League cannot stop Isak from scoringThe pattern of play continued after the restart, with Rúben Dias curling a low shot just wide as the hour mark approached. The Hatters were content to sit deep and restrict space against the title chasers, however, after an hour of resolute defending, they eventually buckled once more. City finally found their second goal of the game via Mateo Kovačić’s sumptuous half-volley, and although substitute Cauley Woodrow struck the crossbar from a Fred Onyedinma cut-back, Luton had no tangible response.
With the contest virtually settled, the goals flowed late on as Haaland added a third from the spot after Onyedinma brought down Doku. Ross Barkley then slotted in a consolation for the away side, before Doku netted a deserved fourth following a brilliant individual run. The scoring was capped off in stoppage time by Joško Gvardiol, adding gloss to a victory that lifts Pep Guardiola’s side to the summit of the Premier League table, two points above title chasers Arsenal and Liverpool ahead of their Sunday fixtures. As for Luton, defeat leaves them in the relegation zone below Nottingham Forest on goal difference and without an away Premier League win since overcoming Sheffield United on Boxing Day (three draws, five losses).
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 33Saturday Newcastle – Tottenham 4-0 (2-0)/Isak 30, 50, Gordon 32, Schar 87/Brentford – Sheffield Utd 2-0 (0-0)/Arblaster 64 og, Onyeka 90+3/Nott.Forest – Wolverhampton 2-2 (1-1)/Gibbs-White 45+2, Danilo 57 – Cunha 40, 62/Man.City – Luton 5-1 (1-0)/Hashioka 2 og, Kovacic 64, Haaland 76 pen, Doku 87, Gvardiol 90+3 – Barkley 81/Burnley – Brighton 1-1 (0-0)/Broenhill 75 – Muric 79 og/19:30: (2.60) Bournemouth (3.40) Man.Utd. (2.70)Sunday 16:00: (2.35) West Ham (3.50) Fulham (2.95)16:00: (1.22) Liverpool (6.50) Crystal Palace (12.0)18:30: (1.30) Arsenal (5.80) Aston Villa (9.00)Monday 22:00: (1.70) Chelsea (3.70) Everton (5.10)***odds are subject to change***