2 years ago
50
ARTICLE AD BOX
Last updated on 8 minutes ago.From the section Premier League
Jack Grealish scored the 50th goal of his club careerManchester City needed a second-half comeback to beat Luton Town at Kenilworth Road and end their four-match winless run in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola's side were facing back-to-back league defeats for the first time since December 2019 when Elijah Adebayo gave Luton the lead in first-half stoppage time, rising highest at the back post to head in Andros Townsend's cross.
But Bernardo Silva latched on to a loose ball in the penalty area and equalised for the visitors with a fine curling effort.
Three minutes later City completed the turnaround when Jack Grealish converted Julian Alvarez's low cross.
Victory means the champions stay fourth, four points behind leaders Liverpool, while third-from-bottom Luton are now four points off safety following Everton's win over Chelsea.
- How did you rate Luton's performance? Have your say here
- What did you make of Manchester City's display? Send us your views here
City record first league win in five weeks
City came into Sunday's fixture on the back of their joint-longest run without a win under Guardiola.
While key players Rodri and Grealish returned after missing Wednesday's loss to Aston Villa through suspension, leading scorer Erling Haaland was absent having picked up a foot injury in training.
At half-time there was a real sense of jeopardy for the visitors, who would have been seven points off Liverpool with a loss.
But in the second half, despite not having Haaland's imposing presence up front, City returned to their ruthless selves.
Just before their goals they hit the bar through Ruben Diaz's thunderous shot following Nathan Ake's cutback.
And once they took the lead they held Luton at arm's length to record their first league win since beating Bournemouth 6-1 on 4 November.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Luton Town
Squad number24Player nameKaminski
Squad number15Player nameMengi
Squad number4Player nameLockyer
Squad number29Player nameBell
Squad number45Player nameDoughty
Squad number13Player nameNakamba
Squad number6Player nameBarkley
Squad number26Player nameGiles
Squad number30Player nameTownsend
Squad number11Player nameAdebayo
Squad number19Player nameBrown
Squad number9Player nameMorris
Squad number14Player nameChong
Squad number18Player nameClark
Squad number28Player nameSambi Lokonga
Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias- Squad number6Player nameAké
- Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
- Squad number16Player nameRodri
- Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number47Player nameFoden- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number5Player nameStones- Squad number25Player nameAkanji
- Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
Line-ups
Luton
Formation 3-4-3
- 24Kaminski
- 15Mengi
- 4LockyerSubstituted forClarkat 90'minutes
- 29Bell
- 45DoughtyBooked at 77mins
- 13NakambaBooked at 58minsSubstituted forSambi Lokongaat 72'minutes
- 6Barkley
- 26GilesSubstituted forChongat 84'minutes
- 30TownsendSubstituted forMorrisat 72'minutes
- 11Adebayo
- 19Brown
Substitutes
- 5Andersen
- 8Berry
- 9Morris
- 14Chong
- 17Mpanzu
- 18Clark
- 23Krul
- 28Sambi Lokonga
- 38Johnson
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6Aké
- 24GvardiolSubstituted forStonesat 69'minutes
- 16RodriBooked at 73mins
- 8KovacicSubstituted forNunesat 83'minutes
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 47FodenSubstituted forAkanjiat 90+3'minutes
- 10Grealish
- 19Álvarez
Substitutes
- 4Phillips
- 5Stones
- 18Ortega
- 21Gómez
- 25Akanji
- 27Nunes
- 33Carson
- 52Bobb
- 82Lewis
Referee:Tim Robinson
Attendance:11,047
Live Text
Match ends, Luton Town 1, Manchester City 2.
Second Half ends, Luton Town 1, Manchester City 2.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Rodri.
Hand ball by Teden Mengi (Luton Town).
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Carlton Morris (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester City. Manuel Akanji replaces Phil Foden.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Rúben Dias.
Attempt missed. Tahith Chong (Luton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Nathan Aké.
Hand ball by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Substitution, Luton Town. Jordan Clark replaces Tom Lockyer.
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Teden Mengi (Luton Town).
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
Tahith Chong (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Offside, Luton Town. Elijah Adebayo is caught offside.
Substitution, Luton Town. Tahith Chong replaces Ryan Giles.
Substitution, Manchester City. Matheus Nunes replaces Mateo Kovacic.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Bernardo Silva.
English (US) ·