John Stones, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero all scored for a second-stringed Manchester City who rested a lot of players.
Manchester City continued their march to the title with a comfortable win over Fulham on Saturday night.
The league leaders who rested a lot of their first-team players in preparation for their Champions League game on Tuesday scored three times in the second half to seal the win and move to 71 points for the season.
Pep Guardiola’s men began with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus up front in replacement for Sterling and Mahrez who have been leading the attack in recent matches. But the strike partners could only muster a shot on target between them in the first half, which saw City dominate possession but unable to break create any clear-cut chances.
However, after the break, the Cityzens came out flying and were ahead one minute and sixteen seconds after the restart through John Stones. The England international applied a simple finish to a lovely Joao Cancelo free-kick to break the deadlock for his side. The goal was his fourth since January and gave Pep Guardiola’s side something to build upon on their way to a comfortable win.
Rodri was the next to test the Fulham goal, but the Spaniard could only shoot straight at Areola after being found in the box by Bernardo Silva.
But by the 57th minute, the visitors were two ahead in rather fortunate circumstances. Gabriel Jesus was the scorer this time, dispatching convincingly after the ball fell to him kindly following a failed Fulham defensive clearance that came off the heels of Cavaleiro.
Another defensive error handed City their third of the night as the returning Sergio Aguero made it three from the penalty spot after former City player Tosin Adarabioyo had fouled Ferran Torres in the box. The goal ended a run of 13 appearances, 641 minutes of play and 24 shots without scoring in the Premier League for him.
Scott Parker replaced Loftus-Cheek with Alex Mitrovic to shore up the attack and help in the hold-up play, but his introduction was not enough to inspire his side as the game ended with City three up.
The result means that Fulham remain in the relegation zone, level on points with Brighton but with a game more. City meanwhile continue to set the pace and are already 17 points ahead of Manchester United in second having played two games more.
Fulham are back in action next Friday against Leeds while Man City will play Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Sergio Aguero has scored his first Premier League goal in 418 days.
John Stones has now scored four Premier League goals in 2021, more than: Anthony Martial (3), Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Marcus Rashford (2), Son Heung-Min (2), Timo Werner
