Manchester City 5-1 Luton Town: Erling Haaland scores as City take Premier League lead

Manchester City went top of the Premier League for at least a day with a predictable and dominant victory over struggling Luton Town.

It took City more than an hour to double their lead thanks to Mateo Kovacic’s sweet rising strike from near the edge of the box.

Haaland put the game beyond doubt with a penalty after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Fred Onyedinma.

Just after City made a double change, Ross Barkley took advantage of a Matheus Nunes error to pull one back for the Hatters.

But Doku stepped in from the left to score a fine solo goal into the bottom corner.

The impressive Doku scored City’s fifth goal as he picked out Josko Gvardiol, who fired a beauty into the top corner – the defender’s second goal in a week having not previously scored for City.

City are two points clear at the top, although Liverpool – who host Crystal Palace – and Arsenal, who host Aston Villa, can get back above them on Sunday.

Luton remain in the relegation zone.

City win without Rodri

City did something they have yet to achieve this season, winning a league match without Rodri.

The influential midfielder has missed three league matches this season due to suspension, the only three defeats City have suffered in the league.

He said he needed a rest after Tuesday’s 3-3 Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid and manager Pep Guardiola obliged. Rodri was on the bench but City didn’t need him.

Ederson was back in goal after a month out and he had a comfortable afternoon to return to action.

It was a comfortable afternoon with everyone dressed in light blue shirts.

Haaland should have scored in the first minute when he was sent one-on-one by Kevin de Bruyne. His shot was stopped by Thomas Kaminski and his pursuit went wide before being deflected by Hashioka, who was almost eliminated by the effort.

There was non-stop pressure and dominance from City, who lived in Luton’s defensive third, but it took them until their 27th shot to double their lead thanks to Kovacic’s half-volley from Julian Alvarez’s cross .

Haaland looked set for another frustrating afternoon in front of goal until Doku was brought down by Onyedinma, and the Norwegian converted a penalty for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

After Luton pulled one back, Doku faced Onyedinma again – who this time didn’t dare rush – before finding the bottom corner.

Gvardiol scored a fine goal in Madrid on Tuesday and scored another in stoppage time thanks to Doku’s pass.

How long reigning champions City remain top depends on Liverpool and Arsenal. Guardiola’s side need the pair to make a mistake at least once in recent weeks.

This is not the game Luton should be targeting

Luton are now one point behind Nottingham Forest in the battle to stay up after the Forest game. draw 2-2 with the wolves.

But he’s never a game manager that Rob Edwards could have expected anything from.

The Luton supporters who came along had a great time and made a lot of noise. These are the kind of games they were looking forward to, and perhaps fearing, after last season’s promotion.

Luton had four shots, although they were good, with Cauley Woodrow hitting the crossbar and Barkley finishing after a pass following a City defensive error.

Luton’s next game – at home to Brentford on April 20 – is huge.