Riyad Mahrez doubles up as Manchester City sweep Fulham aside in FA Cup

Due to African Cup of Nations duty for Algeria, Riyad Mahrez was last sighted in Manchester City colours on New Year’s Day when he scored for a fourth consecutive game. Today, he extended the run, via two finishes in a sparkling second-half display that allowed City to kill off Fulham.

Before the break this had been an invigorating clash between Pep Guardiola’s team, who top the Premier League, and Marco Silva’s Championship leaders. The latter scored first and though trailing at half-time they were barely behind in the possession percentages, in what had been a controlled display of passing reminiscent of their hosts.

Two years ago the score was 4-0 to City in the same fixture in the same round. Then, eight minutes were required for Bernardo Silva to start the festivities. Today Jack Grealish might have done the same 30 seconds in after Kevin De Bruyne slid the ball left and the No 10 advanced but he shot weakly into Paulo Gazzaniga’s hands.

On a serial basis City start like hares, whose speed dizzies and overruns the opponent. Yet Fulham did precisely the same moments later with an opener that exposed the vulnerability of Guardiola’s side to the counter. Harry Wilson launched a raid along Fulham’s right that took him in behind and with no defender nearby he could stroke over the ball for Fabio Carvalho to enjoy a tap-in, Kyle Walker and John Stones marooned on either side of the midfielder.

Cut to a nonplussed Guardiola slumped in his seat. Then, cut back to the play as City equalised instantly. This had an air of pinball about it, as Phil Foden’s glide into Fulham’s area was followed by Grealish, João Cancelo and Mahrez all taking touches as possession ricocheted around before Ilkay Gündogan forced home.

A frantic