Ilkay Gundogan moves Man City closer to another Premier League title and transfer regret

Sweden were celebrating in Liverpool on Saturday and here it was Norway's turn as one of their finest exports moved Manchester City closer to winning the Premier League.

Erling Haaland netted his 52nd goal of the season to end his worrying goal drought of, erm, two games to complete a brilliant few minutes for the champions towards the end of a first half where they had otherwise struggled for quality. Haaland's goal was set up by man-of-the-match for a second week Ilkay Gundogan, who produced one of the best skills of the season to score an audacious opener and once again make it seem silly that the club do not want to give him a new contract that runs past 2024.

Pep Guardiola said recently that Gundogan can do what he likes next season when he is out of contract given he gave the club another memorable moment with two goals on the final day of last season in the improbable comeback over Aston Villa. Watching him recently, it is hard to escape the feeling that the club should do whatever they can to ensure the German likes the idea of staying at the Etihad when at the minute they are set to let him leave for free.

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Two goals at Leeds for Gundogan last week rather had the shine taken off it by missing a late penalty that saw him receive a very public telling-off from Guardiola before an icy substitution where the manager would not even look at him. It was all forgotten very quickly, but a reminder of how Guardiola will not allow anyone to drop their standards.

Here at Goodison, there was nothing that could detract from a wonderful performance that lifted City from mediocre to mesmerising. The first 35 minutes had seen a curious stalemate,