Manchester City edged out a dramatic 5–4 win against Fulham in one of the Premier League’s most chaotic matches of the season — but instead of leaving Craven Cottage with confidence, Pep Guardiola’s side walked away with urgent defensive questions to answer.

City’s attacking brilliance was on full display, yet their inability to protect a commanding lead left fans, pundits, and even Premier League title rivals wondering: Is this the flaw that could cost them the championship race?

Man City’s Attack Shines, but Defensive Woes Steal the Headline

For 55 minutes, Manchester City looked unstoppable. Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal — reaching the milestone faster than any player in history — Phil Foden delivered yet another standout performance with a clinical brace, Tijjani Reijnders added his name to the scoresheet, and Fulham conceded an own goal through Sander Berge.

At 5–1 up, City appeared ready to cruise to a comfortable victory.

But what followed was a shocking collapse.

Fulham substitute Samuel Chukwueze changed the momentum of the game, inspiring a late surge that saw the hosts score three unanswered goals. Fulham even came within inches of completing a historic comeback when one of their final attempts was cleared off the line in stoppage time.

City stumbled over the finish line, relieved but rattled.

After the match, Haaland summed up the chaos simply:
“That’s football. That’s why we love the game.”

Even Guardiola, half-humorous and half-exasperated, joked:
“I’m so old, and the players don’t respect me!”

A Win With Warning Signs for Manchester City

The victory brought City within two points of league leaders Arsenal — at least temporarily — but the defensive collapse overshadowed the strategic win.

While City’s firepower remains unmatched, their defensive frailties are becoming a consistent pattern:

• 10 goals conceded in their last four matches
• Only three goals conceded in the four matches before that
• 16 goals allowed in just 14 Premier League games

For a Guardiola team, those numbers are unusually high.

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison didn’t mince words on BBC Radio 5 Live:

“You can’t expect to win the Premier League when you defend like that… They have to be better. Arsenal would never lose control of a 5–1 game.”

A Match Packed With Rare Statistics

This roller-coaster game also delivered some remarkable historical quirks:

• Fulham hadn’t been involved in a nine-goal top-flight match since February 1968.
• It was the 41st time under Guardiola that Manchester City scored five or more goals.
• This was the first time since 1957 the club won a league match despite conceding four.
• Only Manchester United have played in more nine-goal Premier League matches.

For neutrals, the match was a thrilling showcase. For Manchester City supporters, it was a stressful reminder that even champions can crumble under pressure.

Guardiola: Defensive Issues Can Become an Advantage

Despite the concerning trend, Guardiola remains calm.

He believes the recent struggles could sharpen his team mentally and reinforce the kind of resilience needed to navigate title run-ins and Champions League knockouts.

“Of course I was concerned… but this will help us in future games,” Guardiola said.
He emphasized that adapting to new tactical demands and maintaining discipline are processes that require time and focus.

Even after conceding four, Guardiola pointed to positives:

• Dominant first-half performance
• Ruthlessness in front of goal
• Strong reaction under pressure
• Ability to grind out the win despite momentum shifting against them

City’s challenge now is turning those positives into defensive stability.

Can Manchester City Fix the Problem?

There is no question that Manchester City have the personnel and tactical intelligence to tighten up defensively. However, their current trend suggests a deeper issue:

• Are City becoming too open when chasing goals?
• Are defensive injuries or rotations disrupting continuity?
• Are teams becoming more confident pressing City’s back line?

If Guardiola can restore the compact, controlled defending that fueled their past title-winning seasons, Manchester City remain favorites in the Premier League race.

But if these defensive lapses continue — especially against stronger opponents — the title momentum may begin to shift toward Arsenal or Liverpool.