Manchester City moved two points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League after beating Southampton 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side remain the only unbeaten team in the top flight this season and have now gone a club-record 32 matches without a defeat.
Erling Haaland grabbed his 11th goal of the campaign with a prodded finish to beat Aaron Ramsdale and the champions dominated possession. Cameron Archer hit the crossbar on the stroke of half time to sound a warning for City, who were cruising in second gear.
Haaland was guilty of two shocking howlers in the second half as the Norwegian somehow failed to double the lead. But City were never in any danger of relinquishing their lead. Express Sport analyses of the hosts’ performances with these Man City player ratings after overcoming winless Southampton.
Ederson 6
A mere passenger for the first 44 minutes before Archer’s shot struck the upright and didn’t have much else after that.
Rico Lewis 7
Listed officially as a right-back, the 19-year-old barely spent a minute in his own half and excelled further forward. He pressured and sprinted off the ball, and made himself available when City got it back, as well as completing all 19 of his passes in the first half. Is there a player who embodies Guardiola’s tactics quite like him?
Manuel Akanji 6
Composed in possession but some lapses of concentration at the back. Fortunate to see Archer’s effort come back off the bar when he was caught sitting too deep for City’s high line.
Ruben Dias 7
Made a couple of crucial interventions in the first half when Southampton were encouraged and led by example at the heart of the backline.
Josko Gvardiol 7
Powerful at the back and in dealing with aerial duels, the marauding left-back was able to get forward at will with no one to mark on his side.
Mateo Kovacic 6
With no Rodri, the Croatian was tasked with dictating the play in central areas and looked solid throughout, without performing some of the heroics of previous weeks. Booked.
Bernardo Silva 6
Combined well with Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes down the left. The hard-working central midfielder covered a lot of ground, a lot of the time making unselfish runs to create space for the likes of Haaland and Foden.
Phil Foden 7
The Englishman was handed a central role behind Haaland and was keen to get on the ball as much as possible. Certainly one of his more lively performances this season.
Savinho 8
Looks like more like the new Riyad Mahrez with every game. The Brazilian oozes confidence with how he takes on defenders and, even when Southampton doubled on him, he still found a way past. Fizzed in some dangerous crosses too. On this form, it’ll be difficult to drop him.
Matheus Nunes 7
With Jack Grealish still out, Guardiola sprung a surprise by starting the Portuguese out on the left flank instead of Foden or Savinho. It worked a treat though, as his cross found Haaland to give him a rare assist. At long last, the £45m has found a role that suits him in this team.
Needed just six minutes to end his three-game goal drought in the Premier League, showing his strength to hold off his marker and poke home the opener. But the Norwegian should have walked away with at least a hat-trick and was guilty of glaring misses – somehow failing to make the net bulge from two yards on two occasions.