In a hard-fought encounter, Manchester City battled to avoid an upset against Luton Town, securing a crucial 2-1 victory on Sunday to break their four-game winless streak in the Premier League.
Facing the absence of star striker Erling Haaland due to injury, Pep Guardiola’s team found themselves trailing after Elijah Adebayo’s late first-half goal at Kenilworth Road. Despite numerous missed opportunities, City rallied with two goals in three minutes after the break.
After a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa and draws against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, City risked slipping out of the title race. However, the fourth-placed team responded with determination, narrowing the gap on Liverpool with a gritty performance.
The home crowd at Kenilworth Road celebrated Adebayo’s headed opener just before halftime, but City came back strong. Bernardo Silva equalized in the 62nd minute with a precise left-footed strike, while Jack Grealish netted his 50th career goal three minutes later, finishing a cross from Julian Alvarez.
The result was in line with expectations, considering Luton’s resilience at home in their return to the top flight after a 31-year absence. Despite City’s early dominance, Guardiola’s team wasted numerous chances in the first half.
Grealish, who played a key role in the victory, emphasized the team’s confidence despite recent results, dismissing any notion of a crisis. He acknowledged facing strong opponents and expressed excitement about returning to winning ways.
Luton manager Rob Edwards praised his team’s effort in challenging bigger teams but lamented missing out on crucial points. He highlighted the need for continued improvement and expressed confidence in changing the perception of Luton Town in the league.
