Erling Haaland scores goals - and Kevin De Bruyne makes them.
Manchester City's top scorer returned in style after missing the win over Liverpool, going straight into the starting lineup at the expense of Julian Alvarez and scoring twice to emphasise why it is that he plays whenever he is fit. Thirty goals before Easter in the Premier League is frightening and an early substitution tees him up nicely for the visit of Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
City's 4-1 win at Southampton was due in a big way to De Bruyne though, who made more Premier League history in a performance that showed just how relevant he remains to his team's success. If the intention is for Haaland to spearhead Pep Guardiola's assault on three titles, De Bruyne once again looks like the red-faced alchemist making the magic happen.
Also read: City player ratings vs Southampton in 4-1 win
At this time of the season, pretty much every game matters (unless you are Chelsea). City were looking to close the gap on Arsenal at the top but Southampton have to make sure they do not get cut adrift at the bottom in what looks like being one of the tightest relegation battles in years.
For whatever reason, City games at St Mary's have tended to be more significant than at most other grounds under Guardiola. From the last-second Gabriel Jesus goal to crown the Centurions in 2018 through the start of their title-winning run in the 2020/21 season right up to the shock cup exit to Nathan Jones's side in January this year - one of the worst performances in seven years under the manager that left serious questions over their trophy-winning credentials this season.
Those have mostly been answered in the time since, a run of nine wins and two draws in all competitions since mid-February helping to set the Blues up in three competitions. Eight points behind Arsenal as they kicked off, though, City knew they would have to take all three from a stadium they have struggled at in order to keep the pressure on.
They started like they knew it, with Jack Grealish testing Gavin Bazunu early on amid a mountain of possession and pressure for the visitors. However, a corner gone wrong was all it took to show City's vulnerability as Kamaldeen Sulemana nicked the ball of De Bruyne's toes 30 yards from his own goal and raced all the way to the opposition box, where Ederson did well to divert the ball away without touching him.
Sulemana's pace began to cause City more and more problems, with Ruben Dias outfoxed and Manu Akanji left in a different postcode by the rapid forward as the home support began to sense an opportunity. Dias made a number of important interceptions to temper the momentum, and in truth, Southampton weren't able to get near Ederson.
When City needed someone to turn the game back in their favour, De Bruyne stepped forward. The Belgian made a number of quality touches to set up City attacks in the final part of the first half, and after volleying a ball first time into Grealish's path he ran around him to then chip a lovely ball over to Haaland at the back post.
As good as he is, heading is not Haaland's strong point and he planted it wide from close range, prompting jeers from the home fans. "He's scored more than you," responded the lively away end.
He had as well, and 28 to 23 became 29 just minutes later as another De Bruyne ball into the box was headed in by the remarkable No.9. The missed chance was quickly forgotten as goal number 43 in all competitions hit the back of the net and the striker quite literally let his hair down.
Southampton returned refreshed after the break, knowing that a one-goal lead is slender at this level. Again they caused problems, enough for Guardiola to turn to his bench and bring on Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva as the Blues reverted to four at the back.
Whether it was the formation change, personnel, or simply coincidental, there was an immediate breakthrough. Again it was De Bruyne but there was plenty of work for Grealish to do; after seeing his initial shot blocked, he stayed cool to steer the rebound into the goal.
Those two combined again for Grealish to tee up Haaland for an acrobatic volley and bury the game. It may not be the best volley scored at the club this week after Nico O'Reilly's spectacular effort for the Under-18s earlier on Saturday, but it was more than enough to put Southampton away.
Having heard the home fans sing it earlier in the day, City fans made sure it rang around the ground that Erling Haaland was a "s*** Rickie Lambert' as they revelled in another match where the Norwegian has feasted on goals. It doesn't do City's goal difference any harm to win by three either.
No sooner had he got up from the pitch, Haaland's number was up as Alvarez replaced him. Another chance of a hat-trick was cut short, although Bayern Munich will hardly be relishing lining up against the former Dortmund superstar after witnessing that display.
Some slack defending gave Sekou Mara the opportunity to grab a consolation, but De Bruyne then charged into the box to earn a penalty that Alvarez fired home to restore the sizable advantage. By the end, it could have been even more.
Haaland will get more headlines and the City supporters showed no mercy as they basked in the extraordinary numbers of their star striker, having been starved of a No.9 for the last two years. Behind that, the performances of De Bruyne and, to a lesser extent, Grealish may well be just as important going forward.
De Bruyne, who had to endure some games on the bench in recent months, has stormed back and had an important role in all four goals here even if he came away with only one assist. Having dragged City to the title last season with an outstanding level in the second half of the season, he again looks to be hitting the heights where few can reach him at the right time.
Never mind let him talk, just let him play and enjoy.
READ NEXT:
