'Control' has been the name of the game for Manchester City in recent times, but during the opening 30 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Southampton, Pep Guardiola's side had anything but.
The current version of Guardiola's City is arguably the most complete we've seen during his time at the club, a team that, while not always in free-scoring mood, likes to smother its opponents and starve them of possession. When things are under control, the opponent has less chance to do any damage.
Yet, even to the untrained eye, there was something different about the opening stages of the game at St Mary's. Everything seemed to be happening at 100mph, with both sides trading blows as if their lives depended on it.
