Manchester City beat Luton 5-1 at home on Saturday as they went top of the Premier League table ahead of title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal playing on Sunday.
City are top of the table for the first time since November 24, 2023, which was almost five months ago.
An unfortunate own goal from Luton’s Daiki Hashioka set City on their way and Mateo Kovacic smashed home a beauty in the second half before Erling Haaland slotted home from the penalty spot. Ross Barkley then got a consolation for Luton but Jeremy Doku and Josko Gvardiol finished the scoring with two fine individual efforts.
With the win City move on to 73 points, while Luton remain in the relegation zone on 25 points.
Back ups bring the energy as City run riot
Manchester City haven’t been top of the Premier League table for almost five months. But they went back to the summit on Saturday and it was thanks to their back-up players who proved to Pep Guardiola they can be trusted in this surge towards a potential double treble. Doku, Nunes, Alvarez, Kovacic, Lewis and Gvardiol were all superb against Luton with Doku and Kovacic excellent as they stood in for Grealish and Rodri respectively. As they chase Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory they will need to utilize their entire squad and Rodri’s comments in midweek about needing a rest summed up the fact that City haven’t had that luxury much this season. With the likes of Haaland, De Bruyne, Doku, Stones and Grealish all being out injured for big chunks of the campaign there hasn’t been as much rotation as usual. But now there can be. There are certain players who are guaranteed starters for City but even the likes of De Bruyne couldn’t find a spot in their starting lineup against Real Madrid in midweek and that proves just how well everyone is stepping up when called upon. KDB will surely start against Real this time and Guardiola had the luxury of resting John Stones, Phil Foden, Grealish, Rodri and the returning duo of Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker at the weekend and all six could start against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Expert rotation is how you win a treble. Again.
Manchester City vs Luton player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see that Doku and Kovacic put in brilliant performances to stand tall when Pep Guardiola needed them to. De Bruyne was majestic, as always, and Gvardiol continues to grow in confidence.
What’s next?
Manchester City host Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday, April 17. They then play against Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday, April 20. Luton host Brentford on Saturday, April 20 in a massive game at the bottom of the table.
How to watch Manchester City vs Luton live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday (April 13)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester City vs Luton score: 5-1
Hashioka, OG 2', Kovacic 64', Haaland 76', Doku 87', Gvardiol 90+3'; Barkley 81'
Manchester City vs Luton live updates!
Full time: Manchester City 5-1 Luton
The Hatters did their best to hang in there but City were just too good and their fringe players put on a show to prove to Guardiola that they can be trusted in these huge games coming up in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the final weeks of this season.
Gvardiol smashes home - Manchester City 5-1 Luton (93rd minute)
The goal machine scores his second worldie of the week. Doku plays in Gvardiol and he smashes home from outside the box. What a hit.
Jeremy Doku with a fine individual goal - Manchester City 4-1 Luton (87th minute)
What a lovely goal from Doku. He drives into the box, dribbles away from Luton defenders and curls home.
Luton get a goal and they’ve improved - Manchester City 3-1 Luton (81st minute)
Doughty went close just before and now Ross Barkley has scored for Luton. He gets on the end of a loose ball from City and then runs into the box before finishing calmly. Lovely stuff from the England international. But probably no more than a consolation.
Haaland slots home the penalty kick - Manchester City 3-0 Luton (76th minute)
Haaland sends Kaminski the wrong way and that is his 20th Premier League goal of the season as he extends his lead atop the scoring charts. Haaland hasn’t had many chances but his effort flew off Hashioka for the first and now he’s slotted home City’s third from the spot. Game. Set. Match.
Penalty to Man City as Onyedinma takes down Doku
Doku drives towards goal and skips past Onyedinma who lunges in with a tired tackle and that is the most blatant penalty kick you will see.
Luton hit the bar with their first shot of the game!
Great work down the right from Fred Onyedinma and he sets up Cauley Woodrow who clips a shot to the back post but it hits the crossbar. So close for Luton.
There is the second as Kovacic slams home - Manchester City 2-0 Luton (64th minute)
A corner is played to the edge of the box and it finds Mateo Kovacic who positions his body perfectly and volleys home expertly. City finally get the second goal their dominance deserves.
Dias and Alavrez now off target
City continue to create chances as Ruben Dias sidefoots just wide, then Alvarez finds some space but slams wide.
Chances early in the second half for City
Nunes is through but falls over after a long ball over the top, then Ruben Dias drags a shot wide of the far post. City have had 20 shot to Luton’s zero.
Half time: Manchester City 1-0 Luton
One of the most one-sided halves you will ever see in the Premier League. City dominated with 18 shots to 0. Luton are hanging in there, somehow, but it feels like a matter of time before City grab their second.
Kaminski denies De Bruyne
Kevin de Bruyne curls a shot towards the top corner but Kaminski saves well. Brilliant stop from Luton’s goalkeeper.
Nunes hits the post
The big chances keep on coming for City and this time Matheus Nunes is played in but his shot skims the far post.
Gvardiol does well but City can’t finish
A lovely free kick from the right from KDB finds Gvardiol at the back post but his header across goal cannot find one of his teammates. Big chance for City. This is relentless.
Haaland goes close
City are piling on the pressure and a typically brilliant cross from the right from Kevin de Bruyne is begging to be finished but Haaland slides in at the back post and knocks the ball over the bar.
Gvardiol has a shot saved
He is a goalscoring machine these days and smashes a shot from outside the box with his right foot in a similar style to his goal at Real Madrid but Thomas Kaminski saves.
City lead inside the first two minutes - Manchester City 1-0 Luton (2nd minute)
What a perfect start for City as Haaland’s acrobatic effort smashes Hashioka straight in the head and deflects the ball into his own net. So unlucky for Luton but City are rampant early on.
Manchester City lineup
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Nunes, Kovacic; Alvarez, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Luton lineup
Kaminski; Onyedinma, Burke, Hashioka, Doughty; Berry, Barkley, Chong; Townsend, Morris, Clark
Manchester City focus, team news
Ederson could come back in goal, while Phil Foden suffered a small knock against Real Madrid so could be rested and Kevin de Bruyne will start in his place. What a luxury that is. Expect to see the likes of Alvarez, Doku and Bobb all start too.
OUT: Kyle Walker (hamstring), Nathan Ake (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Phil Foden (thigh)
Luton focus, team news
The Hatters have a very settled lineup at the moment because that is basically all they have. With Barkley and Townsend leading the way, Jordan Clark and Tahith Chong been excellent in midfield too, while the likes of Luke Berry and Cauley Woodrow are playing their part off the bench and every single Luton player is stepping up admirably as injuries have hit the Hatters hard.
OUT: Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh), Gabriel Osho (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (hamstring), Jacob Brown (knee), Tom Lockyer (heart), Dan Potts (thigh), Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Mads Andersen (calf), Amari’i Bell (thigh), Issa Kabore (unable to face parent club),
