Man City 3-0 Fulham LIVE – City go three points behind Arsenal with comfortable win

“He’s irreplaceable. If Bernardo doesn’t play there, we have to play another system.

“He goes to press the goalkeeper and then he comes back in the build up with Rodri.”

Guardiola on taking Haaland off: “Niggles. Some problems, he didn’t feel comfortable. It was 3-0 of course.

“The reason why? Many games.

“Cucurella is injured right? For Chelsea? He’s injured. You know the reason why right?

“I didn’t speak with the doctors. I don’t know exactly what he has. He was just struggling, fatigue or something, I don’t know.

“He said he didn’t feel comfortable, it was 3-0. Common sense.”

Pep Guardiola is not entertaining any talk of City closing the gap on Arsenal, at least until tomorrow.

“We are not nine points (behind) before Anfield and we are not three points (behind) before Brentford v Arsenal. After that we’ll see.

“The focus is on how we can grow, be consistent over 90 minutes.”

Pep Guardiola: “A really good performance. One of the best of this season. After important, emotional games like Anfield, the next one is always tricky.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva on his side’s defeat: “Not good enough. We have to be humble enough to congratulate our opponents and they were better than us.”

Manchester City goalscorer Nico O’Reilly speaking to TNT Sports on competing with Arsenal: “We’re definitely talking about it. But for us our goal is just three points every game and just apply pressure on Arsenal as much as we can.

“That’s all we can do really.”

Perhaps one of the most boring second halves of the season, Guardiola will not mind one bit. City take home all three points and keep just their second clean sheet since New Year’s Day.

Most importantly, it puts the pressure on Arsenal, who do not play until tomorrow night. The gap is down to three points for at minimum the next 24 hours.

Three minutes of injury time have been added on.

Little more than a formality at this point.

Gonzalez brings down Kevin and is shown a yellow card.

It came moments after a strong challenge on Marmoush was not given as a foul. Guardiola is also booked.

Fulham make their final substitution, with Reed replacing Berge.

This game has certainly seemed to peter out in the second half.

Bobb makes his return to the Etihad after leaving last month.

The Norwegian is warmly welcomed by the hone supporters and replaces Wilson.

Guardiola makes his final changes of the night.

Cherki and Gonzalez replace Foden and Rodri.

Fulham have not given up hope on this game yet, they did score three in the second half when these teams met back in December.

It comes to Muniz at the back-post and he strikes well, but Donnarumma is equal to it.

Fulham follow up with a triple substitution of their own.

King, Muniz and Kevin replace Smith-Rowe, Jimenez and Chukwueze.

Guardiola makes his double substitution first.

Silva and Nunes are replaced by Reijnders and Khusanov.

It comes to Foden on the edge of the box and he strikes well but is denied by Leno.

It has been a fairly slow start to the second half and both managers are ready to make multiple changes.

Silva takes the kick-off for the hosts.

We are back underway in the second half!

Haaland is withdrawn at the break, as suspected.

Marmoush replaces the Norwegian, who looked to have picked up a knock.

Marmoush has stayed out during the break to complete a warm-up.

The Egyptian could replace Haaland, who has not been moving completely comfortably since he was fouled in the build up to City’s second goal.

The first half comes to an end with Guardiola’s side in an imperious position. Another half like this one will send a real message out and put the pressure on Arsenal tomorrow night.

Fulham look set for a third successive defeat. Silva’s side had been on a strong run of form before, but they have simply been second best tonight.

Smith-Rowe almost does his former team, Arsenal, a favour.

Wilson crosses for the Englishman, who would have an open net to finish in, however it is just out of reach for Smith-Rowe.

Silva makes a foul to break up play and receives a yellow card.

A fairly avoidable booking for City’s captain.

City have a third and Haaland ends his run of matches without an open-play goal!

Foden finds the Norwegian on the edge of the box. Haaland creates space for a shot before drilling into the bottom corner.

City fly up the other end ans double their lead!

Haaland is fouled ny Andersen on the halfway line, but is still able to get the ball wide to Semenyo. The Ghanian slips it through for O’Reilly in the box and the youngster finishes with aplomb, lifting it over Leno.