Manchester City 1-0 Southampton: Erling Haaland scores to move Cityzens top with win against struggling Saints

Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Manchester City went top of the Premier League table and continued their unbeaten run in the league at the Ethiad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola made four changes to the side which thrashed Slavia Prague 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League midweek, with Matheus Nunes making his first Premier League start of the season, whilst Phil Foden made just his second.

Erling Haaland gave City the lead within five minutes when Nunes’ cross found the Norwegian frontman, who poked the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after beating Jan Bednarek.

But City were unable to threaten the goal as the game went on and Southampton looked to snatch an equaliser.

The result sees Russell Martin’s Southampton side sink to the bottom of the Premier League table on a single point, following Wolves’ draw against Brighton.

Man City travel to Tottenham next as they look to progress into the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup before hosting Bournemouth in the league. Whilst Southampton host Championship side Stoke City in their EFL Cup fixture, before welcoming Everton to St Mary’s in the league.

Despite a healthy 5-0 win against Slavia Prague in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s side’s struggles to find the target continues. They might be unbeaten and top of the table but the goal is not rattling in the same manner as before.

Whilst City dominated in terms of possession and shots, The Citizens looked a shadow of their former selves in front of goal, with a lack of precision and clinical finishes. In games they should have won by a healthy margin against bottom-of-the-table Southampton and Wolves, City have almost failed to fire and had to rely on last minute winners or putting on a defender in the closing stages as Southampton looked more likely to score.

The long list of absentees will do nothing to ease Guardiola’s hunt for goals, with Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish the latest names.

Having waited for an opportunity to start for City after several appearances from the bench this season, Matheus Nunes kept his place in the starting eleven following City’s 5-0 Champions League victory against Sparta Prague and it was no doubt the right decision.

Nunes was the main threat for City and everything seemed to be coming from that left hand side. Here he added an assist to his goal and two assists against Sparta Prague this week, and will be key for City to get out of this relative scoring rut.

Manchester City XI: Ederson 6, Lewis 6, Akanji 7, Dias 6, Gvardiol 7, Kovačić 6, Silva 7, Savinho 7, Nunes 7, Foden 6, Haaland 7 Subs: Gundogan 6, Stones N/A

Southampton XI: Ramsdale 7, Walker-Peters 6, Harwood-Bellis 6, Bednarek 6, Stephens 6, Manning 6, Dibling 6, Lallana 6, Downes 6, Fernandes 6, Archer 7 Subs: Armstrong 7, Aribo 6, Bree 5, Sulemana 5, Onuachu 6

5′ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 SOUTHAMPTON (HAALAND 5′) That didn’t take long. It’s not pretty but a Nunes cross goes into Southampton’s box and Haaland is able to find the net whilst landing on the floor. He looks in disbelief that it went in but City are ahead.

45+1′ ARCHER HITS THE CROSSBAR Cameron Archer is threaded through on goal and he races into the box. He unleashes his shot and it rattles the crossbar.

50′ OFF THE LINE! Foden puts in a dangerous cross and Gvardiol heads across goal. Seconds later, Foden puts in a corner and this time it’s a super delivery as Haaland’s header is cleared off the line, before he has another chance which is saved by Ramsdale.

53′ HAALAND MISS How did he miss that?! City work the ball into the box and Haaland is unable to get his foot on it, whilst being just inches away from goal. He can’t believe he’s missed it and Southampton have been given a major let off.

64′ HAALAND DENIED BY BEDNAREK That was destined for goal surely? Savinho does well on the right hand side and finds Haaland at the far post. The Norwegian diving header bounces just off the line before Bednarek is able to clear.

90+7′ HAALAND DENIED IN FRONT OF GOAL It’s brilliant by Foden, who turns and runs at goal, before finding Haaland. But Ramsdale gets out quickly and is able to smother the ball and deny the forward.