Manchester City have reduced the gap to league leaders Arsenal to just three points after Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Fulham 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

The victory signifies a huge boost for City in the Premier League title race as they would be hoping Arsenal drop points in their away match against Brentford on Thursday to keep the gap very close.

Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for the hosts in the 24th minute, tapping home a header from a Fulham defender that was directed towards the Ghana international.

Six minutes later, the former Bournemouth man assisted Nico O’Reilly to double the lead.

Erling Haaland made it 3-0 in the 39th minute when he fired a low shot past Bernd Leno from the edge of the box to seal the crucial win for City in the first half as the second 45 minutes produced no goal.

With the result, City increased their tally to 53 points, three adrift of the Gunners, who are sitting top on 56 points.

Meanwhile, at the Stadium of Light, Liverpool defeated Sunderland 1-0 in an important victory in the Reds’ push for Champions League football next season.

Defender Virgil van Dijk scored the only goal of the game in the 61st minute when he headed home Mohamed Salah’s cross to ensure the win for Liverpool.

They became the first club to beat Sunderland at home this season, reducing the points behind fourth-place Manchester United to three.

Full Wednesday’s results 

Manchester City 3 vs 0 Fulham 

Aston Villa 1 vs 0 Brighton 

Nottingham Forest 0 vs 0 Wolves 

Crystal Palace 2 vs 3 Burnley 

Sunderland 0 vs 1 Liverpool