Then the tables were turned when Sterling went to ground under defender Joachim Anderson’s challenge inside the penalty area and De Bruyne stepped up to make it 2-0 from the spot with just 26 minutes played.

De Bruyne rattled the crossbar five minutes after the restart, but with Fulham providing stiffer resistance after the break and keeper Alphonse Areola making a series of saves, City’s cutting edge largely deserted them.

However, they had done enough to climb into the top four to lay down the gauntlet for their fellow title hopefuls.

Paul Pogba sparked an impressive fightback as Manchester United recovered from a dreadful start to win 3-1 at West Ham.

United, with Dean Henderson replacing the injured David de Gea in goal and Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford named only among the substitutes, turned in an abject first-half display and the Hammers deservedly led at the break through Tomas Soucek’s 38th-minute opener.

It might have been worse for the visitors had Sebastien Haller not slipped with the goal at his mercy after rounding Henderson seconds later, and it was no surprise when Fernandes and Rashford were introduced before the restart.

But Pogba’s fine 65th-minute finish restored parity despite David Moyes’ claims that the ball had gone out of play during the build-up before Mason Greenwood and Rashford both struck in quick succession to seal the win six days after United had mounted a similar comeback at Southampton.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 11th goal of the season spared Everton a fifth defeat in six league outings as the visitors came from behind to take a point at Burnley.

Robbie Brady had given the home side a third-minute lead at Turf Moor with his first goal since December last year following an error by Allan.

However, the Brazilian redeemed himself in first-half stoppage time when he won the ball from Ashley Westwood to allow Richarlison to send in a cross which was poked home by Calvert-Lewin.

England rivals Nick Pope and Jordan Pickford both made crucial second-half saves as the two sides pushed for the win, but ultimately had to make do with a point apiece.