Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool’s remaining games as champions may regret Luton decision

MAN CITY 5-1 LUTON: Pep Guardiola's side moved back to the Premier League summit with a thumping win over Luton, with Arsenal and Liverpool both playing on Sunday

At least Luton Town’s fans seem to believe that the 115 charges levelled against Manchester City won’t actually stick.

There were 3,000 Hatters housed in the corner of the Etihad’s South Stand - and they appeared to be having a rare old time teasing the home supporters despite being forced to watch their team being slowly pulled apart by Pep Guardiola’s champions.

“Conference champions, you’ll never sing that,” they chanted, choosing to forget that there are those who would have City playing local derbies against Oldham, Rochdale and Altrincham even before the Premier League commission being chaired by Arsenal season-ticket holder Murray Rosen KC actually rules on whether the Blues have cooked the books.

It’s fair to say that even City fans would also like to know what the Premier League have actually got after an investigation that’s now into its fifth year.

At least Luton’s travelling support was rewarded for their backing in the 81st minute when the tireless Ross Barkley dispossessed Matheus Nunes, sat Ruben Dias on his backside and fired a shot into the bottom corner of Ederson’s goal.

Barkley had earlier sent a shot against the crossbar. But, in truth, this was business as usual for City, despite Guardiola deciding to ring the changes ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League return with Real Madrid.

Phil Foden, Rodri, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake were on the bench. John Stones was given the afternoon off.

Yet City still scored five to move above Liverpool and Arsenal and go top of the table. The double Treble is getting closer.

But in a title race where goal difference may prove to be decisive, the team going for an unprecedented fourth successive title might end up regretting playing the game in second gear. Especially after taking just 66 seconds to break the deadlock through Daiki Hashioka’s unfortunate own goal.

“We’ve won it all,” sang Luton’s fans before kick-off, reminding Mancunians that for all of City’s travails in the ‘80s and ‘90s the Hatters have had it much worse.

Luton’s only previous visit to the Etihad was for the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final in 2011. They lost to AFC Wimbledon on penalties and had to wait another three years to return to the Football League.

But these two clubs do have history. City fans of a certain vintage will remember David Pleat dancing across the Maine Road pitch in 1983 after Raddy Antic’s goal had kept them in the old first division at the Blues’ expense in 1983.

When the home side were ahead in the blink of an eye, some inside the Etihad would have licked their lips in anticipation.

Rob Edwards has been a class act this season. But he was a little naive to instruct his men to press City in the opening exchanges, especially when affording Kevin De Bruyne with more than the split-second he usually needs to find one of Erling Haaland’s galloping runs.

Especially after seeing Haaland score five times at Kenilworth Road in the FA Cup February.

Premier League title race

1. Man City- P32, 73pts (GD +44)

2. Arsenal - P31, 71pts (GD +51)

3. Liverpool - P31, 71pts (GD +42)

Arsenal's remaining fixtures

Aston Villa [H] - Sunday 14 April (4:30pm)
Wolves [A] - Saturday 20 April (7:30pm)
Chelsea [H] - Tuesday 23 April (8pm)
Tottenham [A] - Sunday 28 April (2pm)
Bournemouth [H] - Saturday 4 May (12:30pm)
Manchester United [A] - Sunday 12 May (4.30pm)
Everton [H] - Sunday 19 May (4pm)

Manchester City's remaining fixtures

Brighton [A] - Thursday 25 April (8pm)
Nottingham Forest [A] - Sunday 28 April (4:30pm)
Wolves [H] - Saturday 4 May (5:30pm)
Fulham [A] - Saturday 11 May (12.30pm)
Tottenham [A] - Tuesday 14 May (8pm)
West Ham [H] - Sunday 19 May (4pm)

Liverpool's remaining fixtures

Crystal Palace [H] - Sunday 14 April (2pm)
Fulham [A] - Sunday 21 April (4:30pm)
Everton [A] - Wednesday 24 April (8pm)
West Ham [A] - Saturday 27 April (12:30pm)
Tottenham [H] - Sunday 5 May (4:30pm)
Aston Villa [A] - Monday 13 May (8pm)
Wolves [H] - Sunday 19 May (4pm)

De Bruyne’s pass was perfect. Haaland’s first attempt was saved by Thomas Kaminski. His second effort, after Jeremy Doku’s follow-up was blocked, was destined to land somewhere near the corner flag until it struck Hashioka flush in the face and flew into the net.

Edwards has never complained about a casualty list that has wrecked his plans during a winless streak that has now stretched to 12 matches. Ten men were missing. Luton’s bench included two goalkeepers. Their nine substitutes had 13 league starts this season.

They hung in there until the 64th minute when Mateo Kovacic sent a sumptuous half-volley screaming into the roof of the net from 18 yards.

When Haaland finally claimed his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot, the home side's appetite appeared sated with 15 minutes still remaining.

But Barkley’s goal woke them up again - and Doku and Josko Gvardiol made Luton pay for the privilege with two goals in the final three minutes.