Manchester City host Luton on Saturday as they aim to keep their treble hopes within reach but the Hatters are scrapping for survival.
WATCH MANCHESTER CITY v LUTON LIVE
Pep Guardiola’s side drew 3-3 at Real Madrid in midweek in an epic Champions League quarterfinal and with the second leg coming up in Manchester on Wednesday, we should expect plenty of squad rotation from City. They took care of business against Crystal Palace after conceding early last weekend and with Kevin de Bruyne in this kind of form, plus rested in midweek at Real Madrid, City have so many ways they can hurt you. But they are looking more than a little susceptible on the counter attack which is something they’ll have to be wary of this Saturday against their plucky Hertfordshire opponents.
Speaking of Luton, they secured a huge comeback win late on against Bournemouth last time out as Rob Edwards’ side are only in the relegation zone on goal difference with six games to go. That is an incredible achievement for the minnows, especially when you factor in all of the injuries they’ve suffered in recent months. Luton will try their best to keep it tight, then bombard City from set-piece situations and launch counters with the experienced duo of Andros Townsend and Ross Barkley standing tall and taking extra responsibility as the Hatters approach the home straight in their bid to stay in the Premier League.
How to watch Manchester City vs Luton live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday (April 13)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester City vs Luton score: 5-1
Hashioka, OG 2′, Kovacic 64′, Haaland 76′, Doku 87′, Gvardiol 90+3′; Barkley 81′
Manchester City vs Luton live updates!
Gvardiol smashes home – Manchester City 5-1 Luton (93rd minute)
The goal machine scores his second worldie of the week. Doku plays in Gvardiol and he smashes home from outside the box. What a hit.
Jeremy Doku with a fine individual goal – Manchester City 4-1 Luton (87th minute)
What a lovely goal from Doku. He drives into the box, dribbles away from Luton defenders and curls home.
Luton get a goal and they’ve improved – Manchester City 3-1 Luton (81st minute)
Doughty went close just before and now Ross Barkley has scored for Luton. He gets on the end of a loose ball from City and then runs into the box before finishing calmly. Lovely stuff from the England international. But probably no more than a consolation.
Haaland slots home the penalty kick – Manchester City 3-0 Luton (76th minute)
Haaland sends Kaminski the wrong way and that is his 20th Premier League goal of the season as he extends his lead atop the scoring charts. Haaland hasn’t had many chances but his effort flew off Hashioka for the first and now he’s slotted home City’s third from the spot. Game. Set. Match.
Penalty to Man City as Onyedinma takes down Doku
Doku drives towards goal and skips past Onyedinma who lunges in with a tired tackle and that is the most blatant penalty kick you will see.
Luton hit the bar with their first shot of the game!
Great work down the right from Fred Onyedinma and he sets up Cauley Woodrow who clips a shot to the back post but it hits the crossbar. So close for Luton.
There is the second as Kovacic slams home – Manchester City 2-0 Luton (64th minute)
A corner is played to the edge of the box and it finds Mateo Kovacic who positions his body perfectly and volleys home expertly. City finally get the second goal their dominance deserves.
Dias and Alavrez now off target
City continue to create chances as Ruben Dias sidefoots just wide, then Alvarez finds some space but slams wide.
Chances early in the second half for City
Nunes is through but falls over after a long ball over the top, then Ruben Dias drags a shot wide of the far post. City have had 20 shot to Luton’s zero.
Half time: Manchester City 1-0 Luton
One of the most one-sided halves you will ever see in the Premier League. City dominated with 18 shots to 0. Luton are hanging in there, somehow, but it feels like a matter of time before City grab their second.
Kaminski denies De Bruyne
Kevin de Bruyne curls a shot towards the top corner but Kaminski saves well. Brilliant stop from Luton’s goalkeeper.
Nunes hits the post
The big chances keep on coming for City and this time Matheus Nunes is played in but his shot skims the far post.
Gvardiol does well but City can’t finish
A lovely free kick from the right from KDB finds Gvardiol at the back post but his header across goal cannot find one of his teammates. Big chance for City. This is relentless.
Haaland goes close
City are piling on the pressure and a typically brilliant cross from the right from Kevin de Bruyne is begging to be finished but Haaland slides in at the back post and knocks the ball over the bar.
Gvardiol has a shot saved
He is a goalscoring machine these days and smashes a shot from outside the box with his right foot in a similar style to his goal at Real Madrid but Thomas Kaminski saves.
City lead inside the first two minutes – Manchester City 1-0 Luton (2nd minute)
What a perfect start for City as Haaland’s acrobatic effort smashes Hashioka straight in the head and deflects the ball into his own net. So unlucky for Luton but City are rampant early on.
Manchester City lineup
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Nunes, Kovacic; Alvarez, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Luton lineup
Kaminski; Onyedinma, Burke, Hashioka, Doughty; Berry, Barkley, Chong; Townsend, Morris, Clark
Manchester City focus, team news
Ederson could come back in goal, while Phil Foden suffered a small knock against Real Madrid so could be rested and Kevin de Bruyne will start in his place. What a luxury that is. Expect to see the likes of Alvarez, Doku and Bobb all start too.
OUT: Kyle Walker (hamstring), Nathan Ake (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Phil Foden (thigh)
Luton focus, team news
The Hatters have a very settled lineup at the moment because that is basically all they have. With Barkley and Townsend leading the way, Jordan Clark and Tahith Chong been excellent in midfield too, while the likes of Luke Berry and Cauley Woodrow are playing their part off the bench and every single Luton player is stepping up admirably as injuries have hit the Hatters hard.
OUT: Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh), Gabriel Osho (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (hamstring), Jacob Brown (knee), Tom Lockyer (heart), Dan Potts (thigh), Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Mads Andersen (calf), Amari’i Bell (thigh), Issa Kabore (unable to face parent club),
Source Agencies
