Man City

The Blues hit four goals without reply with a classy, dominant performance at the Etihad. The visitors held out for 20 minutes before Joao Cancelo gave City ...

[Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) forced a good save out of former Academy keeper Gavin Bazunu on two minutes, with the Republic of Ireland international clawing a rising shot away. We created chances and we had a feeling those upfront could have been more clinical, but it’s fine. [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan), [Laporte](https://www.mancity.com/players/aymeric-laporte), Alvarez, Gomez, [Palmer](https://www.mancity.com/players/cole-palmer), Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand [Ederson](https://www.mancity.com/players/ederson), Cancelo (Gomez 70), [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake), Akanji, Dias, [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo), [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne) (Alvarez 70), [Bernardo](https://www.mancity.com/players/bernardo-silva) (Lewis 70), [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) (Grealish 58), Haaland, [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) ( [Palmer](https://www.mancity.com/players/cole-palmer)) [Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola)'s plans. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) seems to be forging an excellent understanding with [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland), too - a frightening prospect for any opposition defenders. [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake) and [Manuel Akanji](https://www.mancity.com/players/manuel-akanji) gave impressive performances yet again against Saints. [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo) picked out [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez)'s clever back post run with a lofted pass and the Algerian volleyed the ball into the turf and past Bazunu to make it 3-0. [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne) who powered forward before playing a pass to [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) who drew Bazunu off his line before expertly chipping the ball over him and into the net. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden)'s fine form continued with a delightful chip on 32 minutes and Riyad [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) wrapped up three points four minutes into the second-half with a clever volley. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) sent [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) clear and there was only one expected outcome as the prolific striker approached the box, but his low shot struck the inside of the post, rolled across the empty net and eventually out of play. [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) goal.

The Irish international started on a difficult day for Southampton while Newcastle, Chelsea and Brentford also won.

Christian Pulisic put Chelsea in complete control with a cute finish after exchanging passes with Mount in the 54th minute. After a bright start to the campaign, Southampton have lost their last four games and had no answer to the wave upon wave of City attacks after the break. Guardiola has had some stern words for Mahrez on his physical conditioning in the early weeks of the season, but there were sparks of the Algerian’s best as he volleyed home Rodri’s cross to kill off the encounter as a contest. Erling Haaland struck his 20th goal of the season as Manchester City strolled to the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 demolition of Southampton at the Etihad. The surprise was that for once Haaland was not leading the charge as the 22-year-old’s streak of hat-tricks in home Premier League games came to an end at three. After a couple of early season slip ups, City are beginning to hit their stride in a six-game winning run and have now struck 31 goals in seven games at the Etihad this season.

Manchester City have gone top of the Premier League thanks to a 4-nil victory over Southampton.Erling Haaland scored his 20th goal of the season.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring (file pic). Image: Alamy Stock Photo. YOU WILL struggle to find 45 minutes of football more aesthetically ...

Plans for an official European Super League were of course quashed back in April 2021 but in a way, the ESL already exists. Barring a dramatic implosion from one of the bigger clubs, it is usually easy to predict which 16 teams will be still alive after Christmas. It is simply impossible to imagine any other current Premier League team looking so resounding in victory as the reigning champions are on a regular basis right now — they have scored at least three goals in eight out of 11 fixtures since the start of the campaign. This is perhaps the biggest difference compared to the United. It feels part of a wider trend too, as City increasingly begin to dominate the English game. But there was a freakish element to that game.

Norwegian scores for seventh match in a row as Saints beaten 4-0, while Chelsea and Spurs win.

[Crystal Palace](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/6/Crystal-Palace/overview) will look to move away from the bottom three at home to [Leeds United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/9/Leeds-United/overview). [Patson Daka](https://www.premierleague.com/players/24994/Patson-Daka/stats), but two second-half goals inside four minutes from [Philip Billing](https://www.premierleague.com/players/8882/Philip-Billing/stats) and [Ryan Christie](https://www.premierleague.com/players/15572/Ryan-Christie/overview), his first in the Premier League, claimed the three points that lift the Cherries to eighth. [Chelsea](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/4/Chelsea/overview) are in the UEFA Champions League spots after goals from [Kai Havertz](https://www.premierleague.com/players/20810/Kai-Havertz/stats), [Christian Pulisic](https://www.premierleague.com/players/15559/Christian-Pulisic/stats) and [Armando Broja](https://www.premierleague.com/players/31442/Armando-Broja/stats), his first for the club, eased them to a 3-0 victory over [Wolverhampton Wanderers](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/38/Wolverhampton-Wanderers/overview), who remain in the relegation zone on six points. [Harry Kane](https://www.premierleague.com/players/3960/Harry-Kane/stats)'s eighth goal of the season gave Spurs a first-half lead and they were able to hold firm after the break as [Roberto De Zerbi](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/118012/Roberto-De%20Zerbi/overview) suffered a loss in his first home match in charge of the Seagulls, who sit sixth. [Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/21/Tottenham-Hotspur/overview) bounced back from their north London derby defeat by beating [Brighton & Hove Albion](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/131/Brighton-and-Hove-Albion/overview) 1-0 at Amex Stadium to stay third and end the hosts' seven-month unbeaten home run. [AFC Bournemouth](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/127/Bournemouth/overview) extended their five-match unbeaten run under interim head coach [Gary O’Neil](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/128847/Gary-O'Neil/overview) as they fought back to beat [Leicester City](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/26/Leicester-City/overview) 2-1 at Vitality Stadium. [Newcastle United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/23/Newcastle-United/overview) are up to fifth after they cruised past [Brentford](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/130/Brentford/overview) 5-1 at St James’ Park to celebrate the first anniversary of their takeover. [Joao Cancelo](https://www.premierleague.com/players/5051/Jo%C3%A3o-Cancelo/stats), [Phil Foden](https://www.premierleague.com/players/14805/Phil-Foden/stats) and [Riyad Mahrez](https://www.premierleague.com/players/8983/Riyad-Mahrez/stats) had earlier put City in command to send them two points clear of [Arsenal](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/1/Arsenal/overview), who host [Liverpool](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/10/Liverpool/overview) tomorrow. [Everton](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/7/Everton/overview) will look to claim a third win in a row when they host [Manchester United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Manchester-United/overview). There is also a London derby between [West Ham United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/25/West-Ham-United/overview) and [Fulham](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/34/Fulham/overview). [Bruno Guimaraes](https://www.premierleague.com/players/74761/Bruno-Guimar%C3%A3es/stats) scored twice, while goals from [Jacob Murphy](https://www.premierleague.com/players/9662/Jacob-Murphy/stats), [Miguel Almiron](https://www.premierleague.com/players/54312/Miguel-Almir%C3%B3n/stats) and an [Ethan Pinnock](https://www.premierleague.com/players/22043/Ethan-Pinnock/stats) own goal sealed [Eddie Howe](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/8060/Eddie-Howe/overview)'s biggest win at the club. But the forward was unable to register a fourth consecutive home hat-trick.

Erling Haaland increased his goal tally, but Joao Cancelo was arguably the top Manchester City performer in a 4-0 win over Southampton.

With Haaland as a team-mate and De Bruyne getting even better, it wouldn't be a surprise if that record is smashed this term. It might not have been another hat-trick but it was another game when he was crucial in the final third. Of course, Erling Haaland was eventually on the scoresheet but by then the game was long over.

City's Elite Development Squad suffered an afternoon of frustration at the CFA as we slipped to a first league defeat of the season at home to Blackburn.

Skipper [Shea Charles](https://www.mancity.com/players/shea-charles) was the holding midfielder with Dire Mebude and [Kian Breckin](https://www.mancity.com/players/kian-breckin) also in midfield. [Daniel Ogwuru](https://www.mancity.com/players/daniel-ogwuru), [Josh Adam](https://www.mancity.com/players/josh-adam) and [Carlos Borges](https://www.mancity.com/players/carlos-borges) made up our attacking trident. But a minute later Rover struck again to breach the City backline. [Ezra Carrington](https://www.mancity.com/players/ezra-carrington), [Finley Burns](https://www.mancity.com/players/finley-burns), [Kane Taylor](https://www.mancity.com/players/kane-taylor) and Tom Galvez. [Kian Breckin](https://www.mancity.com/players/kian-breckin) seeing a goal-bound shot deflected away off the line and penned Rovers into their half. [Brian Barry-Murphy](https://www.mancity.com/players/brian-barry-murphy)’s youngsters are back in action on Tuesday when we resume our UEFA Youth League campaign away at FC Copenhagen. [Shea Charles](https://www.mancity.com/players/shea-charles) then produced a fine block on line to deny Leonard another goal. [Kian Breckin](https://www.mancity.com/players/kian-breckin) fired in an early shot on goal after a [Tomas Galvez](https://www.mancity.com/players/tomas-galvez) burst down the left. [Ben Knight](https://www.mancity.com/players/ben-knight) brought a fine save out of Rovers keeper Jordan Eastham [Daniel Ogwuru](https://www.mancity.com/players/daniel-ogwuru)’s powerful shot was blocked by the Rovers keeper by Dire Mebude followed up to score. [Shea Charles](https://www.mancity.com/players/shea-charles) saw his 20 yard half volley whistle over the bar before City were then indebted to keeper Mikki van Sas who produced two smart saves to deny first Vale and then Wood. [Brian Barry-Murphy](https://www.mancity.com/players/brian-barry-murphy)’s side fought valiantly to try and summon up a response.

Paul Merson thinks Man City fans should be "deeply concerned" if Pep Guardiola leads them to Champions League glory this season.

“That’s why if I was a Man City fan and they win the Champions League this season before his contract situation is resolved, I would be deeply concerned. Scoring 40 in the Prem is almost meaningless if that’s all they win this season. “He’s on course for a mammoth goal haul but City would rather he gets 20 in the Premier League and they win the Champions League. “City are hellbent on winning the Champions League and I truly believe there is no chance they can operate at this level without Pep Guardiola. They won’t be the same side, so they have to make the most of it. If you come and sit back behind the ball there is only one result, although the way they pass it around is like a training session and when other Premier League sides do that, it’s robotic.

New Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has labelled Pep Guardiola the "best coach of all time'" in an interview that could see the Manchester City manager's ...

I have my idea. I have my style. for me he is the best coach of all time. With Potter no longer in charge at the Amex Stadium, it looked like the City-Brighton friendship was well and truly over. That created the image of a good relationship between the two clubs, although recent events looked to have damaged that. The Marc Cucurella transfer saga frustrated City bosses, who could not understand why Brighton never informed them of a definite price tag.

Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland's effect on opposition defenders is helping Kevin De Bruyne to be at his creative best.

Match gallery](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/city-v-southampton-gallery-pl-8-oct-63800831) After a game every three days the players react like who they are." [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne) is free to find more space. He was not in the position we should find him but Kevin has Julian, Phil and these players who make movements in behind." [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden), Riyad [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) and Haaland. [Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola).

Manchester City beat Southampton 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to move top of the table before Arsenal face Liverpool on Sunday.

You have to be very brave, we did it two times in the first half and gave them chances. "It's better to be early there and go early. It's fine, after three days a game, the players react and behave again like who they are." In the end he was there to score it. He helped to keep the ball, fight. He said: "In general we played good, a team we struggled [against] last season, every time we played them.

Pep Guardiola: I'm so upset with Erling Haaland because he didn't score three goals!

MAN CITY 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON (FODEN) - The left hand side has been left wide open by Southampton this half, and Foden capitalises. MAN CITY 1-0 SOUTHAMPTON (CANCELO) - He makes a darting run down the left flank and is found by Foden, drives into the penalty area, twists and turns to get beyond Ward-Prowse before drilling the ball across Bazunu's goal. 13’ - HAALAND OFF THE POST!