Southampton ends City winning run with a 1-1 draw

Southampton ends league leaders 12-match winning run of 1-1 spicy draw against Manchester City on Saturday night. Kyle Walker-Peters’ sublime early strike put Southampton in front, and Aymeric Laporte headed home a second-half equalizer for City.

Kyle Walker-Peters had earlier on sensationally put the Saints in front after a fine team move and finish but Aymeric Laporte headed Pep Guardiola’s side level in the second half. Manchester City struck the woodwork twice late on but could not find a winner. Guardiola’s side is now 12 points clear of Liverpool at the top but Jurgen Klopp’s team has two matches in hand.

Southampton’s opener goal was one Pep Guardiola would really have been proud of had his side scored it. A switch of play saw Walker-Peters join the attack and his one-two with Nathan Redmond confused the City defence and gave him a chance to fire home a tasty half volley into the far corner.

Southampton ends City winning run with a 1-1 draw. (Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Manchester City’s first-half performance was somehow shocking as it took them nearly 27 minutes to register their first shot on goal and even that was a speculative effort from Joao Cancelo that flew into the stands. The visitors were probing but had limited penetration. However, Raheem Sterling really should have finished a cross from six yards out but was denied by the giant frame of Fraser Forster.

The city’s second-half onslaught towards the visitor’s goal was expected but it was the home side that should have extended their lead. Ederson was quick to react to a Jan Bednarek header from close range before Armando Borja headed against the post following another dangerous James Ward-Prowse corner. Bednarek also had a chance from the rebound but blazed over to spare Guardiola’s side.

A Kevin De Bruyne set-piece was drifted towards the back post and three City players were waiting to head home. It was left to Laporte to bullet the cross home meaning Saints had conceded 11 headed goals this season – no club has shipped more.

City players celebrate after equalization to a 1-1 draw with Southampton.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

With De Bruyne, trying to run the show bent a sumptuous effort off the frame of the goal before substitute Gabriel Jesus managed to hit the same post moments later after attacking a back-post cross. City wanted a penalty on 78 minutes when De Bruyne was sandwiched on the edge of the box by Mohammed Salisu and Oriel Romeu but a VAR decided to stick with the on-field penalty call.

Southampton seems a team going places with a manager that is proving he is a dab hand at significantly improving players without the need to spend big money. Ralph Hasenhuttl spoke of his pride at remaining unbeaten in the Premier League against Manchester City this season.

Grealish has only scored two goals with two assists to his name this season having appeared in 17Premier League games, with his last goal involvement coming during the 7-0 drubbing of Leeds in December.

City’s manager Pep Guardiola claimed their 1-1 draw with Southampton in the Premier League was one of the best performances of the season. Southampton is set to host Coventry in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, February 5 at 3 pm while Manchester City will take on Fulham at the Etihad in the same competition at the same time.