'Daylight robbery!' - Why Josko Gvardiol didn't take Man City penalty for chance to score hat-trick vs Fulham as fans left baffled by Julian Alvarez decision

City cruised back to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Josko Gvardiol scored twice for the visitors and appeared to have a chance at a hat-trick. However, the defender declined the chance to take a late spot-kick, allowing Julian Alvarez to hammer home the penalty instead and complete the victory.

Gvardiol's decision not to take the kick and score a hat-trick left fans baffled.

One viewer, @harryj_66, posted on X: "Daylight robbery that."

Arsenal fan @michelle_AFC also wasn't impressed: "What a idiot lol.. he will kick himself when he gets in and is told he would have been the only defender in PL history to score a hatrick."

And @nmariCFC posted simply: "That is an L Josko."

Meanwhile, @babevickycruz felt it was a good move by Gvardiol, adding: "Class act from Gvardiol. Shows it's not all about personal glory, team comes first. Plus, Alvarez is a penalty machine, makes sense to let him take it. Team chemistry like that is gold."

And @sodiqAgb said City were thinking about their goal difference: "Nope they had to score because GD is also important to ensure even if they draw they can level arsenal or beat arsenal on GD, you don't want to wish you scored the PK when Arsenal wins the trophy on head to head after you both end up on same GD."

Gvardiol explained his thinking after the match to TNT Sports: "Yeah, another two goals, happy. Clean sheet, happy as well. We discussed it about me taking the penalty but I said of course I would like to take it but we know who is the taker, he takes, so in the end it was Julian - happy for him to score a goal."

The win puts City two points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table and also ends any hope Liverpool had of winning the league in Jurgen Klopp's final season. Both Arsenal and City now just have two games left to play, with the Gunners up next on Sunday when they play a Manchester United team struggling for form at Old Trafford.

City have won a penalty in each of their last eight games against Fulham in all competitions.

City head to Tottenham on Tuesday and then finish the season against West Ham. Victory in both games will deliver a fourth straight Premier League title for Guardiola's men irrespective of what Arsenal do in their final two matches.