Manchester City demolished Luton Town at the weekend – and one player actually set a Premier League season record.
City ran out 5-1 winners against the Hatters, which put pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal. That pressure told for City’s title challengers, with both teams losing their home games the following day.
City are now in the ascendency. Pep Guardiola‘s side are top of the Premier League and the fate of the title is in their hands.
The team is in terrific form, and fans are dreaming of an incredible double Treble.
The win over Luton was certainly very convincing, as many expected it to be – and there was a very solid performance in particular from Jeremy Doku, who actually set a Premier League season record…
‘Brilliant’ Jeremy Doku shines for Manchester City against Luton and sets Premier League record
Doku was handed a start by Guardiola, with Jack Grealish dropping to the bench after playing the first leg against Real Madrid.
Grealish is expected to return to the starting XI for the second leg in place of Doku, although former City goalkeeper David James does believe that Real Madrid’s defenders will be worried about the Belgian coming off the bench on Wednesday.
Doku was electric against Luton, and it was probably his best perhaps since his masterclass against Bournemouth earlier in the season.
Micah Richards hailed him as ‘brilliant’ on Match of the Day, and it was definitely a performance he needed – he had not scored since the FA Cup clash with Huddersfield Town on January 7.
Doku was just so direct, and that directness actually helped him set a Premier League record this season. As per WhoScored, Doku had 23 touches in Luton’s box, which is the most by any player in an opposition box so far this term.
Dangerous Doku set to play important role in the coming weeks
So Doku now has a season record under his belt. 23 touches in the opposition box is seriously impressive – for context, this was actually more than one player who started the game for Luton managed the whole game.
As per Sofascore, Andros Townsend managed just 22, before being substituted in the second-half. Luke Berry just about managed to get more than Doku’s 23 in the area, having 25 in the whole game.
The statistic just shows how direct and good at carrying the ball Doku is. It also may suggest that he strikes fear into the defenders, who let him come closer than they perhaps should.
It was a really good outing for £55 million star Doku, who definitely has an important role to play for City.
There will be occasions when City are struggling to break a team down, and he certainly has that X-factor which could be crucial.