Manchester City keep powering on in a relentless mode that tells Liverpool and Arsenal they must do the same. Pep Guardiola’s champions took top spot with this tight victory and if either Arsenal or Arne Slot’s side can win Sunday’s late kick-off, they will land a bodyblow to the other.

City, with 23 points, lead Liverpool by two and Arsenal by a yawning six, so Mikel Arteta’s team dare not lose. Guardiola’s charges were a touch flat here. Recently, he has preached the need to be patient and though Erling Haaland could have had a hat-trick instead of his solitary winner, injuries meant the manager had scant resources on the bench to change up his team, with only Ilkay Gündogan an attack-minded senior option.