Manchester City rallied late to defeat Luton Town 2-1 on Sunday, putting an end to their four-game winless streak in the Premier League.
Playing without injured star striker Erling Haaland, City found themselves trailing to a first-half goal by Luton’s Elijah Adebayo. However, the champions responded in the second half with goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish in a three-minute span.
The victory was crucial for City, who had seen their lead in the title race dwindle to seven points following a disappointing run of draws and a loss. The win now sees them close the gap to Liverpool back to four points.
Pep Guardiola praised his team’s performance, particularly their resilience after going down early. He also highlighted the importance of the win in keeping their title hopes alive.
While Guardiola expressed concerns about Haaland’s fitness, he remains hopeful of having the star striker back for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and the busy festive schedule.
Despite their lowly position in the table, Luton proved to be a tough opponent, especially at home. City found themselves struggling to break down the home side’s defense before eventually finding the breakthrough late in the match.
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The first half saw City squander several chances, with Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez both coming close to scoring. However, Luton capitalized on their opportunity in the closing minutes of the half when Adebayo headed home from a cross by Andros Townsend.
Guardiola was visibly frustrated by the goal, particularly as it came beyond the allotted stoppage time. However, his team responded well in the second half, with Dias hitting the bar before Silva equalized with a well-placed shot.
Grealish then completed the comeback just three minutes later with a close-range finish. Guardiola celebrated with a touch of sarcasm towards the Luton coaching staff, but ultimately expressed relief at his team’s escape from a potentially damaging defeat.
