Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his team were in a desperate 'question of survival' as they narrowly avoided a historic collapse to secure a breathless 5-4 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.
Haaland's Milestone in a Goal-Fest
The match, played on Wednesday 3 December 2025, will be remembered for its sheer drama and goal-scoring chaos. City appeared to be cruising to a routine victory after establishing a seemingly unassailable four-goal lead early in the second half.
The visitors' goals came from a variety of sources. Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, and Jeremy Doku all found the net, but the landmark moment belonged to Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker netted his 100th Premier League goal, becoming the fastest player ever to reach the century mark, achieving the feat in just 111 matches.
Fulham's Stunning Comeback Rattles Champions
With the score at 5-1, the contest looked dead and buried. However, Fulham mounted an astonishing and courageous fightback that left the reigning champions clinging on for dear life.
Alex Iwobi sparked hope for the home side with a well-taken goal. The real panic set in for City when substitute Samuel Chukwueze came off the bench to score a quickfire double, suddenly reducing the deficit to a single goal at 5-4.
The final minutes were a frantic scramble as Fulham pushed relentlessly for an equaliser, turning what had been a procession into a genuine Premier League classic.
Guardiola Left Searching for Answers
Speaking after the final whistle, a visibly perplexed Pep Guardiola struggled to explain how his team had come so close to throwing away such a commanding advantage.
He conceded that the closing stages were purely about securing the result by any means necessary, framing it as a basic battle for survival rather than a display of their famed controlling football. The three points were ultimately secured, but the manner of the victory will raise questions about City's defensive resilience.
The result keeps Manchester City firmly in the title race, but the dramatic nature of this win at Craven Cottage serves as a stark reminder that no lead is safe in the Premier League.
