Manchester City hit the Premier League summit thanks to a 2-1 victory over Fulham, their eighth league victory on the trot as bid to become only the second different club in history to win three successive domestic titles.While Erling Haaland has taken some ridicule lately for sporting Greta Thunberg-style pigtails, nobody in the Fulham backline was laughing when Tim Ream committed a clumsy foul on Julián Álvarez inside the area with less than three minutes gone. Referee Simon Hooper showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and the Norwegian cheat code stepped up, firing into the corner past Bernd Leno and putting himself into the history books, duly becoming the first man in 92 years to net a half-century of competitive goals inside a single English top-flight season.YOU CAN WATCH HAALAND’S GOAL HERE.City’s joy proved to be short-lived though, as Fulham quickly hit back, with Harry Wilson’s cushioned knock-down being thundered home by Carlos Vinícius to stun the title favourites and bust them back down into second place. But the Citizens are near-unstoppable right now, and if Vinicius’ goal was eye-catching, then Álvarez’s goal to fire City back in front was even better. From all of 30 yards, the World Cup winner let fly and saw his effort dip over top of Leno, in what will certainly go down as a goal of the season contender.YOU CAN WATCH VINICIUS’ GOAL HERE.YOU CAN WATCH ALVAREZ’S GOAL HERE.No longer emulating Greta Thunberg by any measure, Haaland attempted to turn the heat up at Craven Cottage, but his goalbound effort was repelled by Leno as City pressure continued to grow as they sought what would be a game-sealing goal. In truth, Fulham’s German stopper was the only reason City’s margin of victory remained so slender, as he was in fine form to deny Álvarez his second and keep his side in with a shout of finding a famous equaliser.Although that never arrived, defeat certainly wasn’t catastrophic for Fulham, who will be fully aware that securing a second successive Premier League season is a small win in itself. The day belonged to City though, who are now firmly in the driving seat for perhaps the first time this season in the title race, as their trademark uptick in form at this stage of the season looks set to be enough to see them over the line.Erling Haaland is the first player to score 50+ goals across all competitions in a single English top-flight season since 1931…NINETY-TWO YEARS AGO. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eynATE8aMt— Squawka (@Squawka) April 30, 2023 Elsewhere, Manchester United consolidated their place in the Premier League top-four as a narrow 1-0 victory over European-chasing Aston Villa extended the Red Devils’ unbeaten home streak in the league to 15 matches – the longest of any side in the division. Having squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Tottenham on Thursday, the hosts knew a positive response was needed against their in-form opponents. Roared on by the fervent home support, United looked to stamp their authority on proceedings during the early exchanges, with Marcus Rashford and Casemiro both going close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening half-hour.Grateful to still be level, Villa – unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches, searched for a foothold in the contest before halftime, however it was United who finally made their pressure count with the breakthrough six minutes before the interval. Rashford, a constant threat to the visitors’ rearguard, saw a low effort parried away by Emiliano Martínez and the loose ball fell to Bruno Fernandes who lifted a clever finish into the net for his 100th career league goal.YOU CAN WATCH FERNANDES’ GOAL HERE.Armed with the momentum, United looked to press home their advantage in the early stages of the second half. However, despite plenty of possession inside the Villa half, a lack of cutting edge in the final third continued to frustrate the home faithful, as Rashford saw another effort thwarted by Martínez. This gave the visitors encouragement heading into the final 20 minutes, with Unai Emery introducing Bertrand Traoré in the hope of injecting some late impetus into Villa’s attack.Intent on finding a late equaliser, Villa came agonisingly close to levelling the scores when Douglas Luiz’s strike was cleared off the line by Sabitzer, however the United rearguard held firm under pressure to secure a hard-earned three points. The result sees the hosts consolidate their place in the top-four with a nine-point cushion over Tottenham and Villa, while the West Midlands side suffer a first defeat in 11 Premier League matches to dent their European hopes.De Zerbi’s Seagulls are a whole different weight class for WolverhamptonFurther north, Southampton’s hopes of survival took yet another hit as Newcastle United came from behind to seal all three points in their hunt for UEFA Champions League qualification.The visitors showed their attacking intent from the outset at St. James’ Park, twice testing the reflexes of Nick Pope during a high-octane start to proceedings. Reluctant to simply soak up the pressure, Newcastle clapped back with a period of sustained pressure. Anthony Gordon’s energy down the left flank was causing Lyanco all sorts of problems, and the wide man was agonisingly denied by the post when he slid a low effort past the onrushing Alex McCarthy. The hosts remained in the ascendancy for the majority of the half, but crucially, Southampton made the all-important breakthrough as halftime approached. An incisive breakaway cut through the Magpies’ defence and was rounded off by Stuart Armstrong’s first-time finish, injecting the Premier League’s bottom club with renewed hope.YOU CAN WATCH ARMSTRONG’S GOAL HERE.Spoilt for choice in terms of in-form goalscorers, Eddie Howe brought on Callum Wilson at halftime, and the Newcastle no.9 duly repaid his manager’s faith by netting the equaliser 10 minutes later. The south coast side had withstood waves of attacks in the first half, but their defence finally buckled when Alexander Isak picked out Wilson, who blasted a shot beyond the helpless McCarthy from close range.YOU CAN WATCH WILSON’S FIRST GOAL HERE.The Magpies were relentless in their pursuit of a second goal, continually knocking at the Southampton door and they inevitably took the lead to shatter Southampton’s hopes. After VAR had denied Wilson for an offside in the build-up, Sven Botman sent a header into the unfortunate Theo Walcott to finally hand the Magpies the lead.YOU CAN WATCH WALCOTT’S OWN GOAL HERE.Still with their foot on the gas, Newcastle then put the game to bed when Wilson kept his composure to round McCarthy and tuck in a third goal nine minutes from time. Southampton were left shellshocked by the home side’s onslaught and had no response as Wilson struck the bar late on. The result leaves the Saints without a win in nine, languishing at the foot of the Premier League table six points from safety. As for Newcastle, a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2002/03 looks all but guaranteed thanks to their commanding lead over the chasing pack.YOU CAN WATCH WILSON’S SECOND GOAL HERE.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 34Saturday Crystal Palace – West Ham 4-3 (3-2)/Ayew 15, Zaha 20, Schlupp 30, Eze 66 pen – Soucek 9, Antonio 35, Aguerd 72/Brentford – Nott. Forest 2-1 (0-1)/Toney 82, Dasilva 90+4 – Danilo 45+1/Brighton – Wolverhampton 6-0 (4-0)/Undav 6, 66, Gross 13, 26, Welbeck 39, 48/SundayMan.Utd. – Aston Villa 1-0 (1-0)/Fernandes 39/Newcastle – Southampton 3-1 (0-1)/Wilson 55, Walvott 79 og, Wilson 81 – Armstrong 41/Fulham – Man.City 1-2 (1-2)/Vinicius 15 – Haaland 2 pen, Alvarez 36/Bournemouth – Leeds 4-1 (2-1)/Lerma 20, 24, Solanke 63, Semenyo 90+1 – Bamford 32/18.30: (1.61) Liverpool (4.10) Tottenham (5.70)Monday 22.00: (2.14) Leicester (3.50) Everton (3.80)Tuesday 22.00: (1.70) Arsenal (3.80) Chelsea (5.60)***odds are subject to change***
