Manchester City showed their champion mentality to dig deep and clinch a dramatic late 2-1 win away to Sheffield United. The Blades gave Pep Guardiola's side an almighty scare before the visitors' quality ultimately shone through.

This was far from a routine victory for City against fired-up opposition in a raucous atmosphere. But to grind out wins when not at their free-flowing best could be crucial to retaining their title.

Fulham showed their Premier League credentials by twice coming from behind to earn a spirited 2-2 draw away to Arsenal. The Cottagers refused to be intimidated at the Emirates, matching the Gunners blow for blow in an enthralling see-saw clash.

Manager Marco Silva would have been thrilled by his side's courage and resilience against tough opposition. Many predicted Fulham would crumble against Arsenal's attacking talents. But Silva's well-drilled team had other ideas.

Now both these sides battle it out at the Etihad Stadium. 

Manchester City vs Fulham

The game will take place on Saturday, 2nd September, 2023, at Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England.

City Edge Blades in Bramall Lane Thriller

City bossed possession in the first half without finding their usual attacking rhythm. The Blades stayed organized and struck on the counter to keep the champions at bay.

Despite the lion's share of the ball, clear-cut chances were few and far between for City. Their frustration grew when Erling Haaland uncharacteristically missed a penalty right before the break.

Haaland didn't miss many, but his tame spot kick summed up an awkward opening 45 minutes for City. They controlled the game yet lacked the energy and precision to consistently unlock the United defense.

The Blades fans could sense an upset was brewing and passionately urged their team on. City knew they needed to find higher gears after the interval to avoid a shock defeat.

The champions began the second half with greater purpose as the end-to-end action continued. Both teams had openings as the game opened up into a compelling battle.

City finally made the breakthrough just after the hour mark through Haaland's predatory header. But even after scoring, this was no walk in the park for Guardiola's men.

United and their supporters refused to wave the white flag. The Blades threw caution to the wind late on, going toe-to-toe with City in relentless attacking spells.

The pressure was felt when Jayden Bogle netted a shock equalizer in the 85th minute to bring the house down. City captain Kyle Walker was culpable, losing possession in the buildup.

Bramall Lane erupted as United fans believed they could pull off a monumental upset. But City showed the hallmark of champions to respond instantly amid the hostile atmosphere.

Just three minutes after the equalizer, Rodri rifled in an unstoppable winner to break United hearts. It was a hammer blow after they came so close to a previous point.

City rode their luck at times, especially when Haaland's penalty miss kept United in the game. But backed into a corner late on, the champions showed their pedigree to snatch victory from the jaws of what would have been a disappointing draw.

City showed their human side at Bramall Lane but crucially found a way to win when far from their best.

Fearless Fulham Battled Back against Arsenal

The visitors shocked Arsenal by grabbing a dream lead inside the opening minute. It was a superbly worked goal, but also embarrassingly easy from an Arsenal perspective.

You expected the Gunners to come storming back, but Fulham stood firm despite relentless pressure. Arsenal dominated possession and carved out several decent openings, but Fulham's gritty defending kept them at bay.

Much of the Cottagers' good work was undone when they conceded a soft penalty for Kenny Tete's rash slide tackle early in the second half. Up stepped Saka to calmly convert and level things up.

Just as it looked like Arsenal would power on to victory, Fulham showed tremendous spirit to bounce back again. Despite ceding so much territory, they carried a constant threat on the break.

That danger was told with just eight minutes left when Fulham substitute Neeskens Kebano floated in an inviting cross. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic showed great strength and desire to reach the ball first and prod it past Aaron Ramsdale.

The noisy traveling fans went wild as Fulham retook the lead with time running out. It was no more than their spirited display deserved.

Fulham's late chances underlined that they were far from intimidated at a ground where many teams wilted. Their mental strength and self-belief is a huge positive as they battle to avoid a quick return to the Championship.

Manager Silva was thrilled with his side's fearlessness and aggression in attacking a top-six team. Far from sitting deep, Fulham stepped up and took the game to Arsenal right from the start.

The concern from Fulham's perspective was how easily Arsenal opened them up in the second period before the late rally. Had the Gunners been more clinical, they could have run riot as Fulham tired from their early industry.

But this was still an excellent result at a notoriously tough away ground. The battling point showed that Fulham will be no pushovers this season, especially if they bring this level of intensity.

The newly-promoted Cottagers served notice that they can shake up more established teams with their energetic and bold approach. No doubt their vibrant display will put upcoming opponents on notice about the threat Fulham pose.

If Silva can keep his players performing with the same hunger and fearlessness, Fulham have a strong chance of retaining their top-flight status.

Predicted Lineups

Man City Predicted Lineup: Ederson, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Rodri, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland

Fulham Predicted Lineup: Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Issa Diop, Kenny Tete, João Palhinha, Tom Cairney, Willian, Andreas Pereira, Harry Wilson, Raúl Jiménez

Key Battles

• Rodri vs Harrison Reed

Both players are midfield maestros who could fill in all gaps and play an attacking brand of football whenever necessary. It would be exciting for everyone to witness how these two lock horns in this premium game.