Manchester City survived a sensational comeback attempt by Fulham to secure a 5-4 victory in a nine-goal thriller at Craven Cottage. The win, however, exposed defensive frailties that could jeopardize their Premier League title aspirations.

Erling Haaland etched his name further into Premier League history, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals, achieving the feat in just 111 appearances. He surpassed Alan Shearer's previous record of 124 games. Despite Haaland's milestone, the spotlight shifted to the Citizens' shaky defense as Fulham mounted a stunning second-half fightback.

City appeared to be cruising to a comfortable victory after taking a 5-1 lead. Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute, lashing in a cross from Jeremy Doku to mark his 100th Premier League goal. He then turned provider, setting up Tijjani Reijnders to double the lead. Phil Foden added a third before halftime, capitalizing on a loose ball after a punch from Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Fulham, however, managed to reduce the deficit just before the break, with Emile Smith Rowe scoring a diving header. City seemed to have regained control early in the second half, as Foden scored his second and a deflected shot from Doku made it 5-1.

But Fulham had other ideas and launched an unlikely comeback. Alex Iwobi struck from outside the box, and substitute Samuel Chukwueze scored twice in quick succession to reduce the deficit to a single goal with 12 minutes remaining. City were left clinging on nervously as Fulham pressed for an equalizer.

Ultimately, City managed to hold on for the win, but the game raised serious questions about their defense. Despite the victory, they remain two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with the Gunners having a game in hand.

Player Ratings

• Manchester City: Erling Haaland and Phil Foden stood out with their attacking contributions, but concerns linger about the team's overall defensive performance.
• Fulham: Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze impressed with their goals, spearheading Fulham's comeback attempt.

The result leaves Manchester City with plenty to ponder as they continue their pursuit of the Premier League title. While their attacking prowess remains undeniable, addressing their defensive vulnerabilities will be crucial if they are to maintain a serious challenge.