2 years ago
22
ARTICLE AD BOX
Foden now has seven goals for City in 12 games in all competitions this season. His best total in one campaign so far came in 2019-20 when he scored 16 goals in 50 gamesErling Haaland scored his 20th goal for Manchester City as his side swept Southampton aside to move top of the Premier League.
The 22-year-old Norway striker has taken only 13 games to reach that mark in all competitions, with struggling Saints the latest side to find out how hard it is to keep him or his team-mates quiet.
City attacked relentlessly from the start and Haaland was within inches of giving them an early lead when he hit the inside of the post after galloping clear.
Instead it was Joao Cancelo who put the home side ahead, running on to Phil Foden's pass and cutting past James Ward-Prowse before finding the bottom corner of the net.
Foden, who like Haaland scored a hat-trick here against Manchester United last weekend, got on the scoresheet himself soon afterwards with a dinked finish after Kevin de Bruyne found him in space in the box.
That put City in complete control at the break and they wrapped up the points at the start of the second half when Mahrez volleyed home a Rodri cross.
The only thing missing for the home fans was another Haaland goal, and for once it appeared it might not be his day.
Haaland was unable to get on the end De Bruyne's cross under pressure from Mohammed Salisu, and then brilliantly denied by Bazunu, who dived at his feet as he charged through at goal.
As the chances kept coming however, you just knew Haaland would take one - and so he did, meeting Cancelo's cutback with a typically precise low finish to make it 4-0 after 65 minutes.
Southampton, who managed only one touch in the City area and a total of two shots - both from distance, and both off target - never looked like avoiding a fourth-straight defeat.
- Live updates from Saturday's Premier League matches
- Go straight to all the best Manchester City content
- Visit our Southampton page
City keep scoring, and keep on winning
City were last in top spot on 20 August and might not stay there for long - Arsenal will return to the summit if they beat Liverpool on Sunday.
Regardless of their current position in the table, though, it is clear Pep Guardiola's side are in the sort of form which will worry all of their title rivals.
The defending champions are the last unbeaten side in England's top four divisions but it is the way they are despatching opponents that is the most ominous sign.
City's stroll against Saints means they have now scored 33 goals in nine league games, 13 more than Arsenal who have the next best tally.
Having Haaland obviously helps - he now has 15 league goals for the season, matching the tally of De Bruyne when he finished as top scorer in that competition in 2021-22 - but his team-mates keep scoring too.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number25Player nameAkanji- Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
- Squad number6Player nameAké
- Squad number7Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number26Player nameMahrez- Squad number9Player nameHaaland
Squad number47Player nameFoden
- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
- Squad number21Player nameGómez
- Squad number80Player namePalmer
- Squad number82Player nameLewis
Southampton
- Squad number31Player nameBazunu
- Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters
- Squad number37Player nameBella-Kotchap
- Squad number22Player nameSalisu
- Squad number15Player namePerraud
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse- Squad number27Player nameDiallo
- Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
- Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong
- Squad number7Player nameAribo
- Squad number10Player nameAdams
- Squad number18Player nameMara
- Squad number19Player nameDjenepo
- Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi
- Squad number28Player nameJuan Larios
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 25Akanji
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6Aké
- 7CanceloSubstituted forGómezat 70'minutes
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forÁlvarezat 70'minutes
- 16Rodri
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forLewisat 78'minutes
- 26MahrezSubstituted forPalmerat 70'minutes
- 9Haaland
- 47FodenSubstituted forGrealishat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Gündogan
- 10Grealish
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 80Palmer
- 82Lewis
- 97Wilson-Esbrand
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Bazunu
- 2Walker-PetersBooked at 20minsSubstituted forLarios Lópezat 79'minutes
- 37Bella-Kotchap
- 22Salisu
- 15Perraud
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 27Diallo
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forDjenepoat 66'minutes
- 9A ArmstrongSubstituted forElyounoussiat 66'minutes
- 7AriboSubstituted forMaraat 79'minutes
- 10Adams
Substitutes
- 1McCarthy
- 3Maitland-Niles
- 4Lyanco
- 6Caleta-Car
- 18Mara
- 19Djenepo
- 24Elyounoussi
- 28Larios López
- 32Walcott
Referee:Andy Madley
Attendance:53,365
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 4, Southampton 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Southampton 0.
Attempt blocked. Cole Palmer (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Julián Álvarez.
Offside, Manchester City. Rico Lewis tries a through ball, but Cole Palmer is caught offside.
Cole Palmer (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Moussa Djenepo (Southampton).
Attempt missed. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse.
Attempt missed. Romain Perraud (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Romain Perraud (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Romain Perraud (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Manuel Akanji.
Nathan Aké (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Che Adams (Southampton).
Attempt missed. Sergio Gómez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
Substitution, Southampton. Sékou Mara replaces Joe Aribo.
Substitution, Southampton. Juan Larios replaces Kyle Walker-Peters.
Attempt missed. Rúben Dias (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grealish with a cross following a corner.
Substitution, Manchester City. Rico Lewis replaces Bernardo Silva.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Gavin Bazunu.
Attempt saved. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Erling Haaland.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
English (US) ·