Manchester City completed its ominous, late-season rise to the top of the Premier League by beating Burnley 1-0 thanks to Erling Haaland’s early goal on Wednesday, ending Arsenal’s 200-day stay in first place.
The result condemned American-owned Burnley to relegation after one season back in the top flight. Haaland ran onto Jeremy Doku’s pass to convert a deft finish in the fifth minute for his league-high 24th goal of the campaign, which allowed City to back up its 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday that, for many, turned Pep Guardiola’s team into the title favorite.
However, with goal difference potentially coming into play, City might regret not putting more past Burnley at Turf Moor. Winning by a one-goal margin left City and Arsenal tied on both points and goal difference. City only leads courtesy of more goals scored.
Haaland and Rayan Cherki both struck the goal frame and Nico O’Reilly had a weak shot saved with the goal at his mercy as City threw everything at Burnley in an effort to rack up the goals.
City was nine points adrift of Arsenal after drawing with West Ham on March 14. Three straight wins, combined with back-to-back losses for Arsenal, has seen the title race turn on its head.
In the other match Wednesday, Leeds scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth and edge nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Sean Longstaff’s late equalizer denied Bournemouth a win that would have lifted the team to sixth place, four points off the Champions League qualification positions.