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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood & Bobby Vincent

Alan Shearer gives Manchester City verdict and assesses Pep Guardiola's quadruple hopes

Manchester City are on course to win the Premier League title this season - but can they go on to mount a historic quadruple charge?

Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas certainly think so, sharing their views on the BBC Sport panel alongside presenter Gary Lineker after Pep Guardiola's side swept aside relegation-threatened Fulham.

Goals from Sergio Aguero - on target for the first time in 14 months - Gabriel Jesus and John Stones did the damage in a routine 3-0 verdict at Craven Cottage.

It's a result that leaves them 17 points clear of city rivals Manchester United - although they do have two games in hand - but time is running out for United to catch up the table-toppers, who remain in contention for three other trophies.

Speaking on the MOTD panel, former England striker Shearer said: "The league is theirs, they're in the final of the Carabao, one foot in the Champions League, Everton in the FA Cup. Not bad, is it?"

Jenas added: "It's definitely possible. The thing that's been key to that is how specific Pep has been with the rotation of his squad."

On City's performance against Fulham, Shearer continued: "They were excellent and Scott (Parker) mentioned it then, that he asked his team to be brave, and they were.

"Rightly so, because of the confidence they would've had with the result last weekend and it worked for them in the first half, but not for the second half.

"I wonder if that's why Pep went with two strikers, because he knew they'd be brave and just to have that extra man up there to try and press them - like they did.

"Scott said they were brave and some of their play was excellent, but they didn't really threaten City by doing that. Look at City, their full-backs are high in Cancelo and Mendy - every man is at it for City, they may not win the ball back straight away, but there was no way Fulham were getting out."

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