Julian Alvarez can bring another Man City rethink for Pep Guardiola at Fulham

Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season when Manchester City travelled to Fulham last season but Pep Guardiola was happier talking about another striker.

For all the result may have looked like another breeze for the soon-to-be champions (again), this was a scruffy 2-1 win that owed a lot to Julian Alvarez. It was the Argentine who won the early penalty for Haaland to put away and then again to score a worldie to put them back ahead in a game that had started to frustrate them.

Kevin De Bruyne wasn't risked at Craven Cottage as he continued to be nursed through an ongoing hamstring injury, yet Alvarez's performance in his absence had made up Guardiola's mind. Two had to become three.

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"He helped me a lot to understand that maybe in the future I have to adjust something to make both he and Kevin play. In tight games, where we play against defences with five at the back, this will be so so important,’ said the City boss afterwards.

"It’s not just the goal and the penalty. It's the intensity in the pressure, keeping the ball, and the vision because he is an incredible, exceptional player. Not just scoring goals - he knows exactly where the other players are and the movements, everything he does."

Guardiola can go overboard in press conferences but this was sincere - and backed up six days later when De Bruyne returned to the side and Alvarez and Haaland stayed in it. This season, he has proven a handy replacement for both men when they have spent months on the sidelines.

Their return - and the form of Phil Foden - has limited Alvarez again, and