Manchester City took another step in their bid to win a fourth consecutive Premier League title with a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland on target.

Pep Guardiola’s men kept the pressure on leaders Arsenal, pulling to within a point of the Gunners — who held on to win 3-2 at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day — in the table with a game in hand.

Gvardiol got City on the scoreboard when he headed in Kevin De Bruyne’s corner kick in the 32nd minute in a nervous first half that saw Forest miss a couple of terrific chances.

Haaland made a quick impact when he entered the game as a substitute in his first action since missing two matches with a muscle injury. The Norwegian took a pass from De Bruyne in the 71st minute and launched it into the far corner for a league-leading 21st goal of the season. He had previously been level with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

Earlier, an own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and efforts from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz put the Gunners in control at halftime and although Spurs fought back through Cristian Romero’s strike and a Son Heung-min penalty, the visitors claimed the three points.

Tottenham’s defeat hit their hopes of playing Champions League football next season as they stand seven points off fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit still with two games in hand.

“The last 20 minutes was not nice but it was worth it,” Saka told Sky Sports. “We know it’s a big derby and they don’t want to lose 3-0 at home so once they got one the crowd was up and the momentum shifted their way. But I’m proud of all the boys, we fought to the end and we got the three points.”

Bournemouth’s best

Goals from Marco Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert gave Bournemouth a 3-0 home win over Brighton & Hove Albionto ensure the club’s highest points total in the Premier League era with three games left to play.

The 10th-placed Cherries have amassed 48 points, two more than their previous best of 46 achieved in 2016-17.

Reuters