Who needs Kevin De Bruyne?
Manchester City and just about every other team in the world do, but it is some substitute for Pep Guardiola when he can replace his injured Belgian star with Julian Alvarez. The World Cup winner enjoyed his biggest contribution yet in a City shirt, upstaging a record-equalling Erling Haaland for the first time to ensure the Blues left Craven Cottage with three points.
You could be forgiven for thinking City had already won not just the league but the Treble based on some of the post-Arsenal coverage ahead of this game, an earlier coronation than King Charles. Such silliness not only failed to take in the strength of teams such as Arsenal, United, and Real Madrid but also the lasting strength of the Premier League.
