Ruben Selles speaks
“We had a plan and we knew what we wanted to do,” the Southampton boss tells Sky Sports. We played well until the second goal and had an opportunity to go 1-0, we missed that. We tried to stay in the game as much as possible.
“We wanted to keep them in their own half. We wanted to make it difficult for them to arrive in our half. We tried to do our thing and I think it worked for a big part of the game. We went into the second half believing we could do something because of the standards we set in the first half but then the second goal came. It was the second goal that let us a little bit down.
“They are working well and we are trying to show those connections. We need to continue working to get those last bits there for us. We keep the boys believing and keep working hard. Every game is big. We tried to win today.”
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Match report: Southampton 1-4 Manchester City
“There is little chance of Manchester City going away,” writes Nick Ames from St Mary’s. “This was a second successive 4-1 win owed to clinical finishing and impeccable timing, the returning Erling Haaland breaching a spirited Southampton at the end of a relatively flat first half.”
Pep Guardiola speaks
“I give a lot of credit to Southampton,” he tells the BBC. “Their game plan was really, really good. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition when you’re not at your level. We were fortunate to be ahead at half-time. We had more physicality in the second half. We found the second goal after we won a dual and after it was easy.”
On Erling Haaland’s performance: ““The second goal was amazing,” he says. “It is not easy to pick the ball up in the sky and put it on the grass. His talent is really good and we need him. The first half was not our best level but he changed the game.
“As a top scorer we lived two incredible decades with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but he is on that level. He scores a lot of goals. I am very happy with 65 minutes after injury that he helped us again.”
Kevin De Bruyne speaks: “I was talking to James Ward Prowse at the end, they always play good, they just sometimes miss a striker,” he tells Sky Sports. “For half an hour we had it tough, then we had chances and thankfully scored the goal. We played really well in the second half. The goal we conceded was soft, but we played really well. They play really good football, they press well and are compact. They are a good side.”
On reaching the milestone of 100 Premier League assists: “I saw it before the game because a lot of people were talking about it online. It is something you can’t really miss. I just tried to create as much as possible. I could have had two or three more. If they score I get the assist. Of course I am proud. I am known for my creativity, there aren’t many football players who have been there. Half of the side is mine and half of the side is the other. It is a proud moment, yeah, but I have to go on.”
He goes on to say he probably won’t watch the game between Liverpool and Arsenal tomorrow because he wants to spend some time with his family before they abandon him to go on their Easter holidays.
A quick recap: Despite dominating possession in the first half, Manchester City had to survive a couple of scares before going aheasd just before the break courtesy of an Erling Haaland header.
After the break, Jack Grealish needed two attempts to beat Gavin Bazunu after being played in behind Kevin De Bruyne. Grealish then turned provider, standing the ball up so that Haaland could score the goal of the game with an audacious overhead kick.
Sekou Mara came off the bench to pull a goal back for Southampton following excellent work by his fellow substitute Mossa Dejenpo, but Southampton were immediately punished for their impertinence when Julian Alvarez, on for Haaland, scored from the spot after Kyle Walker-Peters had felled Kevin De Bruyne in the Southampton penalty area.
Full-time: Southampton 1-4 Manchester City
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! It’s all over at St Mary’s, where Manchester City have swatted Southampton aside with a minimum of fuss. Two goals either side of the break (and a Jack Grealish strike) from Erling Haaland – one routine, the other superb – did the lion’s share of the damage, while Julian Alvaraz’s spot-kick restored their three-goal cushion when Sekou Mara had bagged what was only ever going to be a consolation for Saints.
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90+3 min: Southampton’s players have barely touched the ball in the past five minutes and have been forced into the role of spectators as Manchester City close out the game as if engaged in an elaborate passing drill against a set of 11 training cones.
90 min: As City’s travelling fans pay homage to Kolo And Yaya Toure through the medium of song, the players they’ve come to support continue to embarrass hosts who will remain anchored to the bottom of the table but can take quite a few positives from their excellent first-half performance. City move to within five points of Arsenal at the top of the table with both teams having played the same number of games. Arsenal have a potentially tough, season-defining assignment at Anfield tomorrow afternoon.
88 min: City continue to play keep-ball, not allowing Southampton’s physically and mentally shattered players a touch.
86 min: City look in no mood to show any clemency and continue to toy with their hosts. A Bernardo Silva cross to the edge of the six-yard box is headed clear by Jan Bednarek.
84 min: Gavin Bazunu gets it launched but Sekou Mara is unable to control the ball properly under pressure and the it finds its way back to Ederson.
82 min: With the jig well and truly up, Southampton have switched to a back five in the hope of avoiding a complete tonking.
More substitutions: Kalvin Phillips and Sergio Gomez are on for City, while Romain Perraud and Ibrahima dialla come in for Southampton.
79 min: There’s a break in play as Romeo Lavia receives treatment for an injury.
GOAL! Southampton 1-4 Manchester City (Alvarez 75pen)
Manchester City restore their three-goal cushion within 32 seconds. Julian Alvarez scores from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker-Peters had brought down Kevin De Bruyne in the Southampton penalty area. The World Cup-winner smashes the ball down the middle and wheels away in celebration.
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Goal! Southampton 1-3 Manchester City (Mara 72)
Southampton pull one back. It’s an inspired double-substitution by Nathgan Telles as Djenepo shows great feet to wriggle past several defenders and tee up Mara, who smashes home from about 10 yards out.
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71 min: Southampton double-substitution: Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo on for Sulemana and Alcaraz.
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70 min: His celebrations complete, Haaland is replaced by Julian Alvaraz but appears to have no problem with being substituted on this occasion, despite being on a hat-trick.
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GOAL! Southampton 0-3 Manchester City (Haaland 68)
68 min: Grealish cuts inside from the left and stands the ball up for Erling Haaland. His finish is sublime, as he hooks the ball past Bazunu with an acrobatic overhead kick. That’s a seriously good touch for a very big man.
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67 min: Kevin De Bruyne threads a pass between two backpedalling defenders for Bernardo Silva to chase. Gavin Bazunu smothers at his feet.
64 min: Grealish wins another corner for City, forcing Bella-Kotchap to head wide of his own goal with another teasing cross. Nothing comes of this set-piece either but things are looking increasingly bleak for Southampton.
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62 min: Good defending from Jan Bednarek, who heads a Kevin De Bruyne cross that was heading unerringly towards Erling Haaland at the far post out for a corner as City attacked with menace. Once again, Jack Grealish was pulling the strings in the build-up, playing the ball out wide to De Bruyne. Nothing comes from the set-piece.
61 min: Southampton substitution: Adam Armstrong on for Mohamed Elyounoussi.
GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Manchester City (Grealish 58)
City double their lead! Grealish runs on to a defence-splitting through ball from Kevin De Bruyne and has his first low effort saved by Gavin Bazunu. The ball breaks back to Grealish, who makes no mistake second time around. The goal stands after a VAR check for offside.
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57 min: Manchester City double-substitution: Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva on for John Stones and Riyad Mahrez. Manchester City look to have switched to a more orthodox back four.
55 min: Haaland is booked for a foul on Bella-Kotchap in the wake of a challenge that looked 50-50 at worst.
54 min: Southampton fans boo for what they see as a foul on Mohamed Elyounoussi going unpunished a few yards outside the City penalty area. Their derision may be justified.
53 min: Now Grealish and De Bruyne link up, only for the Belgian to have his shot from the edge of the area blocked.
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51 min: Gundogan and Grealish combine to great effect down the inside left as City increase the tempo. The German international curls an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
50 min: There’s a break in play as James Ward-Prowse recovers after swinging his boot at the ball and connecting with Riyad Mahrez’s studs. That’s a sore one.
48 min: Manchester City win a corner from which nothing comes and Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu tries to send Theo Walcott on his way with a quick, long clearance. Jack Grealish fouls the Southampton veteran in an area that’s a little too far out for James Ward-Prwose to try his luck. The Saints skipper floats the ball towards Armel Bella-Kotchap, who is unable to get any purchase on his header and sends it high and wide.
Second half: Southampton 0-1 Manchester City
46 min: Play resumes with no changes in personnel on either side. Erling Haaland is all smiles ahead of kick-off. Can Soputhbam ptopmn bounce-back from that kick in the proverbials just before half-time? They’d performed heroically up until that point.
Half-time: Southampton 0-1 Manchester City
Peep! The players adjourn to their dressing-rooms for the break with Manchester City leading courtesy of Erling Haaland’s 43rd goal of the season in all competitions. It was created by Kevin De Bruyne, who registered his 100th Premier League assist. The lead is no more than City deserve for all their dominance but Southampton have defended doggedly and will rue a couple of missed chances of their own.
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Manchester City (Haaland 45)
City lead! It’s a gut-punch for Southampton jusat before half-time as Erling Haaland punishes their profligacy by hanging in the air before heading home a Kevin De Bruyne delivery from six yards out.
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43 min: Chance! Romeo Lavia lays a wonderful ball off to Kamaldeen Sulemana in space on the left side of the City penalty area. His cross/shot evades Elyounoussi and rolls wide of the far post. He should have shot himself but didn’t seem confident enough!!!
41 min: Erling Haaland outjumps James Ward-Prowse at the far post and connects well with a DeBruyne delivery from the left. He sends the ball into the side-netting when you’d have bet the farm on him to score.
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40 min: Kyle Walker-Peters advances up the inside left at speed with the ball at his feet but is unable to get a cross into the City penalty area,
39 min: John Stones drives a cross into the Southampton penalty area and Bednarek sends the ball out for a corner. Riyad Mahrez’s inswinger is cleared before Ruben Dias can swing his boot.
36 min: Alcaraz is fouled by John Stones, an indiscretion that earns the City defender a yellow card. Free-kick for Saints about 40 yards from the City goal, well right of centre. Nothing comes of it, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles eventually getting the ball and overhitting a cross towards Armel Bella-Kotchap.
33 min: City continue to massively dominate possession as we pass the half-hour mark but Southampton are hungrily chasing any crumbs that fall their way. They’re playing very well against vastly superior opposition and have had the best chance of the game so far in Sulemana’s lightning fast counter-attack.
31 min: Jack Grealish appeals for a penalty as he hits an attempted cross off James Ward-Prowse’s hand, which is dangling by his side. No spot-kick is forthcoming and it would have been most unjust if one had. Still, you never know these days given our old friend the Letter of The Law and the manner in which various officials interpret it.
30 min: Southampton get another ball into the Manchester City penalty area from the left but Sulemana’s delivery is a foot or two behind Mohamed Elyounoussi.
29 min: Erling Haaland’s been having a very quiet game thus far but tries to impose himself by barging through the centre with the ball at his feet. He runs into traffic congestion and loses it.
27 min: Ainsley Maitland-Niles is penalised for a slightly late challenge on Jack Grealish as he dispatched a pass just inside the Southampton half. He helps the City winger back to his feet.
25 min: Boos ring out as play is stopped with Southampton in possession of the ball. Jack Grealish has gone to ground after an airborne collision with Jan Bednarek and referee Robert Jones is obliged to halt play as he might have a head injury. While Grealish did take a knock after landing heavily, he’s fine.
23 min: Walcott shields the ball down by the corner flag, trying to goad Nathan Ake into conceding a corner. He doesn’t but Southampton soon win a throw-in deep in City territory.
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22 min: Alcaraz receives treatment for an injury to his achilles but returns to the pitch with a grimace of pain.
20 min: Alcaraz tries to put a cross to the head of Mohamed Elyounoussi on the edge of the six-yard box, but Nathan Ake does enough to put the Norwegian off. This is very encouraging from Southampton, whose fans are hugely enthused with what they’re seeing from their young team.
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18 min: That was a great chance for Southampton but unfortunately they had nobody up in support of Sulemana because there’s nobody in their team with his pace. As I recall, when he signed for Saints much was made of the fact that the men manning the Ligue1 speed guns clocked him as being even quicker than Kylian Mbappe.
16 min: Chance for Southampton! From a corner, Kamaldeen Sulemana steals the ball from De Bruyne and hares upfield at top speed with Nathan Ake in hot pursuit. A serious speed-merchant, the Southampton winger slows down, then accelerates again to move beyond the defender, only for a woefully heavy touch to allow Ederson off his line to clear.
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14 min: Grealish plays De Bruyne in behind down the inside left and the Manchester City midfielder wins a corner for his team. De Bruyne’s inswinger is met by Ruben Dias but Gavin Bazunu saves.
13 min: Theo Walcott tries to chase down a Ruben Dias backpass that looks like it might not have the legs to reach Ederson. It does have the legs to reach Ederson, although it does wipe its feet on the way.
11 min: Assorted City players ping the ball hither and yon for fun leaving Southampton’s players chasing shadows. A Riyad Mahrez cross from the right is put out for a corner by Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Nothing comes of the set-piece.
9 min: City will hope to put this game to bed as early as possible ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich on Tuesday but there’s no indication they have one eye on that encounter and might take this one lightly.
8 min: Admittedly early possession stats: Southampton 9%-91% Manchester City.
4 min: Gavin Bazunu makes the first of what could be many saves against his former club, diving to his left to keep out a drive from Jack Grealish, who had been teed up by Riyad Mahrez as Manchester City broke upfield on the counter. City galloped the length of the pitch, opening up their hosts in three or four passes on that occasion.
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2 min: Carlos Alcaraz curls a low ball across the face of the Manchester City six-yard box from the right but there’s nobody in a Southampton shirt to connect and finish past Ederson. It’s a decent start from the home side.
2 min: Southampton win an early free-kick following a robust challengeby Manuel Akanji. James Ward- Prowse sends the ball towards the penalty area from deep and John Stones deals with it.
Southampton v Manchester City is go ...
1 min: Manchester City get the ball rolling, their players wearing their third kit of luminous yellow and black striped shirts, black shorts and luminous yellow socks. At least they won’t be hard to spot. The players of Southampton wear largely white shirts with a thick red striped down the middle, black shorts and white socks.
Not long now: Led by James Ward-Prowse and Ilkay Gundogan, both sets of players follow referee Robert Jones and his team of match officials out on to the St Mary’s sward and line up for the last of the pre-match niceties. Anything other than an emphatic Manchester City victory seems almost inconceivable but ahead of kick-off some Southampton fans will be daring to dream. The smart money suggests they are about the endure the stuff of their worst nightmares.
An email: “Could you attempt to give us a formation, with Pep changing tactics and formation every weeks,” asks Frederic Levrat. “I would say it is a 3-2-2-3 or a box 3-box-3. Stones, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne occupying the midfield box.” Frederic, I would no more attempt to second-guess Pep than I would try to catch the wind in a butterfly net but other readers are welcome to try although kick-off is fast approaching.
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Brighton: While I have not yet seen the game, by most if not all accounts, Brighton seem to have fallen victim to one of the most incompetent displays of officiating in Premier League history throughout their 2-1 defeat away at Spurs.
They had two goals chalked off, were denied a stone-wall penalty (an incident I have seen) and had their manager, Roberto Di Zerbi, sent to the stands alongside his opposite number, Cristian Stellini. One Spurs-supporting friend of mine who was present at White Hart Lane texts me to say “I don’t think the VAR machine was working”.
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Today's Premier League results
Manchester United 2-0 Everton
Aston Villa 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United
Fulham 0-1 West Ham
Leicester City 0-1 Bournemouth
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Brighton
Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
Southampton v Manchester City
Those teams: Ruben Selles makes four changes to the team that lost against West Ham last Sunday. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Carlos Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana all come into the side, with Romain Peraud, Djue Caleta-Car, Stuart Armstrong and Sekou Mara making way.
Erling Haaland starts for Manchester City, his first appearance for club or country since scoring a hat-trick against Burnley in the FA Cup on 18 March. So impressive against Liverpool last time out, Julian Alvarez makes way in the only change to Pep Guardiola’s line-up from last Saturday.
Southampton v Manchester City line-ups
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Maitland-Niles, Alcaraz, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Elyounoussi, Walcott, Sulemana.
Subs: McCarthy, Caleta-Car, Onuachu, Perraud, Armstrong, Mara, Djenepo, Edozie, Diallo.
Manchester City: Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Stones, Rodri, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Walker, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Silva, Gomez, Palmer, Lewis.
Today's match officials
Referee: Robert Jones.
Assistants: Ian Hussin and Marc Perry.
Fourth official: Craig Pawson.
VAR: John Brooks.
Early team news
Southampton are without striker Che Adams and defender Mohammed Salisu, who both remain sidelined after picking up injuries while on international duty with Scotland and Ghana respectively. Armel Bella-Kotchap is a doubt with a shoulder injury sustained during his side’s draw with Southampton, while long term absentees Valentino Livramento and Juan Larios are also unavailable.
Erling Haaland has been decared fit to play after recovering from a groin injury but Phil Foden is out as he convalesces after having his appendix removed. He’s likely to be out for at least a fortnight but otherwise Pep Guardiola has a full squad to choose from.
Premier League: Southampton v Manchester City
Rock bottom of the table and four points (and five goals in the plus column of the ledger) from safety, Southampton could scarcely welcome more daunting opposition to St Mary’s as they try to claw themselves out of the deep trouble in which they find themselves.
Currently playing under their third manager of the season in Alex Telles, Saints have taken just five points from the last 18 available and will do very well indeed to add to that tally against a Manchester City team that sit second behind Arsenal and have won seven consecutive games in all competitions, scoring 27 goals in the process.
While Manchester City won the corresponding fixture at the Etihad Stadium 4-0 what seems a lifetime ago in early October, Southampton subsequently caused quite the seismic shock by knocking Pep Guardiola’s team out of the Carabao Cup in a victory masterminded by Nathan Jones, who has since been fired.
Southampton can certainly take heart from that defeat but one suspects City will arrive at St Mary’s with revenge on their minds and could pile the hurt on their hosts, dealing a hammer blow to their survival hopes in the process. Kick-off on the south coast is at 5.30pm but you’re welcome to join us for team news and build-up in the meantime.
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