Manchester City had a game just like this last year. Around the same time of the season, too. Also sandwiched in between two potentially defining matches.
Sheffield United in the FA Cup. A semi-final at Wembley but relatively kind all the same. A chance for Pep Guardiola to make his changes, offer some rest to Rodri after Bayern Munich away and days before a title-tilting shellacking of Arsenal.
Sheffield United is what was different that season to all the others, a reason why they went a step further. The semi-final stages were kryptonite, always in the middle of other huge occasions and City’s squad – packed full of quality but not depth in numbers – couldn’t cope once Guardiola rang the changes owing to fatigue and prioritising, losing three of them on the bounce. It was usually the day the Treble died.
Not last year though and the freshness bought that day undoubtedly had a bearing on what would follow. Luton, in between a double date with Real Madrid, had that distinct feel. Teams who win the lot need afternoons like this, sticking the cruise control on. City ended it top of the Premier League for the first time since November and with half of their best team on the bench.
‘The team is alive,’ Guardiola said. ‘We spoke with the players before the game about how incredible it is to be here again. We have to admit it, what a privilege, still fighting for the Premier League after all we have done. Madrid next, we’ll give everything with the energy of our people. I have no doubts about how we still run in every department.’
Man City returned to the top of the Premier League with a 5-1 win over Luton Town on Saturday
![City opened the scoring within two minutes when Erling Haaland's effort hit Daiki Hashioka](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592531-13304167-image-a-2_1713021699863.jpg)
City opened the scoring within two minutes when Erling Haaland’s effort hit Daiki Hashioka
![It was a hugely unfortunate goal for Luton to concede with Hashioka struck in the face by Haaland's shot, which was heading wide of the goal and the defender required treatment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592533-13304167-image-a-3_1713021791602.jpg)
It was a hugely unfortunate goal for Luton to concede with Hashioka struck in the face by Haaland’s shot, which was heading wide of the goal and the defender required treatment
![Mateo Kovacic made it 2-0 to City midway through the second half with a stunning strike](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592977-13304167-image-a-10_1713022265246.jpg)
Mateo Kovacic made it 2-0 to City midway through the second half with a stunning strike
![It was the Croatian midfielder's first Premier League goal for the club since joining last summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592983-13304167-image-a-11_1713022317670.jpg)
It was the Croatian midfielder’s first Premier League goal for the club since joining last summer
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Rodri complained of tiredness in midweek, not something he is prone to do, and was promptly given the afternoon off.
Just as at Wembley. Bernardo Silva joined him for a jog late on, with City two goals clear, although the pair ended up just standing to watch on the sideline, celebrating wildly when the mesmeric Jeremy Doku passed in their fourth with three minutes left.
Matheus Nunes started only his seventh league game for the club, Mateo Kovacic ran the game before he reverts back to the bench in the weeks to come, thundering in City’s second on the hour. Rico Lewis was trusted, Julian Alvarez was given a nod.
This could not have been more perfect for Guardiola, truth be told. That is not to do Luton down but a reflection on the table, with this City’s seemingly most comfortable game of the run-in. If there was a moment to shake things up – and involving slight risk, with obvious caveats that don’t need explaining – then Luton at home was it.
Injury-hit Luton, who have lit up this division at various points and not adrift like their fellow promoted teams, do feel like something of a throwback to Blackpool all those years ago: gumption, a no-fear attitude and presenting a general surprise. Dial the brightness up on Luton’s shirts and you could be looking at the same team.
Like Blackpool, their run since Christmas is deeply alarming – despite the recent victory over Bournemouth – and there must be some concern that the tide cannot be turned sufficiently to avoid relegation. Actually in the squad during that Blackpool season, Rob Edwards saw firsthand how this league can swallow teams whole.
![Haaland made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Fred Onyedinma](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83593363-13304167-image-a-13_1713023099483.jpg)
Haaland made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Fred Onyedinma
![Ross Barkley pulled one back for the Hatters after City gave the ball away when playing out](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83593439-13304167-image-a-15_1713023334427.jpg)
Ross Barkley pulled one back for the Hatters after City gave the ball away when playing out
![Jeremy Doku added the gloss to the result with a goal that his performance deserved](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83593467-13304167-image-a-16_1713023457722.jpg)
Jeremy Doku added the gloss to the result with a goal that his performance deserved
![Josko Gvardiol made it five in injury time as the defender netted for the second time this week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/17/83593711-13304167-image-a-17_1713024288928.jpg)
Josko Gvardiol made it five in injury time as the defender netted for the second time this week
The difference between those two clubs is the head coach. While Ian Holloway’s stubbornness proved an undoing, Edwards is a tactician whose dexterity could yet haul Luton out of trouble.
‘Today was the hardest game we’ve had all season, I’m glad it’s done now,’ Edwards said. ‘Hopefully we get some bodies back and now we go into five games where we believe we can win, can get results. Today was never going to derail us.’
Edwards wore the agitation of a manager who believed that they could have affected proceedings more.
Luton didn’t register a touch in City’s box until the 66th minute, already two behind, when Cauley Woodrow struck the bar. Shots rained down on Thomas Kaminski, flying around to thwart the returning Kevin De Bruyne – sick for Real on Tuesday – and Josko Gvardiol, threatening to repeat his Bernabeu trick. He would manage it much later, thrashing in with his right foot again.
Daiki Hashioka had unwittingly given City a lead 66 seconds in, a wayward Erling Haaland volley smashing the Japanese defender flush in the face and deflecting past Kaminski. Haaland had initially fluffed the move when clean through.
Haaland later had his goal with 14 minutes left from the penalty spot. Jeremy Doku had been clipped by a tiring Fred Onyedinma and Haaland sent Kaminski the wrong way, soon then taken off.
![Matheus Nunes was handed a rare start and saw a first half effort hit the outside of the post](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592815-13304167-image-a-5_1713021974179.jpg)
Matheus Nunes was handed a rare start and saw a first half effort hit the outside of the post
![Rodri and Bernardo Silva were given a rest by Pep Guardiola after City's hectic run of fixtures](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592555-13304167-image-a-6_1713022015502.jpg)
Rodri and Bernardo Silva were given a rest by Pep Guardiola after City’s hectic run of fixtures
![It was a tough afternoon for Rob Edwards and his heavily depleted Luton side at the Etihad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83592509-13304167-image-a-9_1713022093063.jpg)
It was a tough afternoon for Rob Edwards and his heavily depleted Luton side at the Etihad
![They remain in 18th following the defeat, but are just one point from Nottingham Forest in 17th](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/13/16/83593129-13304167-image-a-12_1713022465278.jpg)
They remain in 18th following the defeat, but are just one point from Nottingham Forest in 17th
His father, Alfie, had suggested earlier that the criticism of the top scorer – this his 20th in the league – was driven by a Roy Keane ‘agenda’. And we all know what that means.
Seconds after that substitution, Nunes gave cheap possession away and Ross Barkley worked an angle to strike across Ederson – back in for Stefan Ortega after injury – and Luton had their consolation that a more progressive second half probably deserved.
Doku was making his case and capped off a fine display by scaring Onyedinma again, the makeshift defender backing off to allow the Belgian to nestle into the far corner, while Gvardiol recorded his second in a week during stoppage time.
Madrid here on Wednesday and then an FA Cup three days later. A big week indeed – and Guardiola won’t need to rest half of the team again.
Source From: Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Mail Online
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