Man City seal third place with victory at Fulham

Manchester City finished third in the Premier League as they beat Fulham on the final day to ensure a place in the Champions League next term.

Pep Guardiola's fallen champions - they went into the season on the back of four straight Premier League titles - have endured a miserable campaign, failing to win a major trophy for the first time since 2017 and ending 13 points behind champions Liverpool.

City dominated the opening stages and deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes courtesy of Ilkay Gundogan's stunning bicycle kick - his first league goal of the campaign - after Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno pushed Matheus Nunes' cross into the German's path.

Fulham, though, responded well as Harry Wilson's low curling effort was tipped away from goal by Ederson at full stretch, with Andreas Pereira only able to find the side-netting as he followed up.

Josko Gvardiol saw a header saved by Leno at point-blank range and Erling Haaland added a second from the penalty spot after Jorge Cuenca's trip on Gundogan.

Fulham could not find a way back and defeat was their 10th since the turn of the year, meaning they end the campaign in 12th position.

This fixture was only the third in Premier League history not to feature an English player in either starting XI after Portsmouth v Arsenal in December 2009 and Arsenal v Chelsea in January 2019.

City won the Community Shield in August but they failed to claim noteworthy silverware for the first time in eight years and a big summer for Guardiola awaits.

A major squad rebuild may be on the cards, with their talisman Kevin de Bruyne featuring in a City shirt for the final time for the last five minutes, while Jack Grealish's future is in doubt after being left out of the matchday squad.

City's task of making sure they returned to Europe's elite club competition next season went to the final day, but they were in command for large parts of the game and did not look like slipping up.

Assessing the formbook between the sides beforehand, this result should never have been in doubt, and City duly beat Fulham for the 18th time in a row.

Midfielder Gundogan is now 34 and it remains to be seen whether he stays at the club, but his goal at Craven Cottage was stunning, leaping into the air before converting a brilliant acrobatic finish via the crossbar.

Gundogan had failed to convert any of his previous 26 shots in the top flight this season but came to the fore at the right time, netting just his third goal in all competitions.

City have lost 16 times this season, their most since 2008-09, but end the campaign with a 10-game unbeaten run and can now enjoy a little rest, before they return to action next month.

They travel to the United States for the expanded Club World Cup, getting their campaign under way against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June in Philadelphia.

Fulham looked like qualifying for Europe at stages this season but have fallen away, finishing the campaign with two victories in their last seven games.

Captain Tom Cairney led the side out in possibly his final appearance for the club, with the 34-year-old's contract expiring in the summer - he could have finished with a flourish but sent an effort inches wide in the opening period.

Full-back Kenny Tete's deal is up too and striker Carlos Vinicius is another that may depart having found first-team chances limited in west London.

Manager Silva rejected an approach from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad last summer, so could another club now come in for the Portuguese?

Fulham had their chances through Pereira and Sander Berge late on, but were unable to find a way past City's Ederson, while Raul Jimenez flashed a bicycle kick narrowly over with the last kick of the season.

Source: BBC Sport