Watch: Phil Foden’s banger helps Manchester City edge Fulham

Last Updated on 2 December 2025

A nine-goal thriller unfolded at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night with Manchester City nearly giving up a 5-1 lead after Fulham’s resurgence.

Manchester City led Fulham by three goals on two different occasions only to hang on for dear life toward the end in a Premier League classic.

But with that win, Pep Guardiola’s men close in on Arsenal, with only two points separating them, while the Gunners have a game in hand.

Phil Foden scored a brace but his first-half stunner best of the goalfest at the Cottage

The 25-year-old has four goals in his last two Premier League appearances, coming up with all important braces in back-to-back games to help keep the Citizens in the title race.

But Foden saved the best for Craven Cottage, smashing in a top-bins finish in the first-half.

That gave Manchester City a 3-0 lead in the first half, after Erling Haaland opened the scoring and Tijjani Reijnders made it 2-0.

Fulham pulled one back right before the half-time whistle, only to go 4-1 behind after Foden scored again early in the second half.

Things got worse for the home side after Sander Berge converted a Jeremy Doku attempt into his own goal for 5-1.

But, unbelievably, the Cottagers were not out of the game, just yet. Alex Iwobi would get a second goal for Fulham before Samuel Chukwueze netted a brace in six minutes.

And it easily could have been 5-5 if not for a late Josko Gvardiol goal-line clearance from a Josh King effort.

Manchester City just about keeping up the pace with Arsenal

Despite two losses in three days, Pep Guardiola’s side has managed to open up the title race after two nervy wins against Leeds United and Fulham.

They needed an injury-time winner from Foden against the promoted Leeds side at home, and an injury-time goal-clearance from Gvardiol.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have drawn two of their last three Premier League games conceding four goals in the process. That included an stoppage time equalizer at the Stadium of Light and a draw against ten-men Chelsea.

Despite being the outright best side in the league, Arsenal find themselves only two points ahead, with a game in hand. A win against Brentford has suddenly become a non-negotiable.