Sunday, December 22, 2024

Haaland scores inside five minutes as Man City host Saints – live

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(Action Images via Reuters)

Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Southampton fc today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as the reigning champions look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.

Pep Guardiola’s team currently trail league leaders Liverpool by a single point after eight matches and with the Reds facing fellow title rivals Arsenal on Sunday, City can go top with a win today. They are the only unbeaten team left in the top flight this year and enjoyed an easy midweek 5-0 win in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Saints have been struggling at the other end of the table, just one point to their name so far and winless since their return to the Premier League. Defensive errors have cost them dearly – today they face not just the champions, but the league’s top scorer in Erling Haaland.

Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:

Manchester City vs Southampton

Southampton will probably be fairly pleased with the game at the moment, despite being a goal down, they are defending well and are trying to have a good themselves. They break quickly, keeping the ball in the City final third, but eventually get crowded out before anyone can get a shot away.

Manchester City vs Southampton

Another Saints change here, with Lallana the man coming off and he’s been replaced by Aribo.

Manchester City vs Southampton

Yellow Card Adam David Lallana

Manchester City vs Southampton

Russell Martin has picked up just one point in his first eight Premier League matches as Southampton manager (D1 L7) – in Premier League history, only Mick McCarthy has ever won fewer points in his first eight games (zero).

Manchester City vs Southampton

This is much better from City, they are pressing forward much quicker and carving out more opportunities to try and get a second goal. You have to think that another goal, would probably be enough for City today, with Saints not offering much themselves at the other end.

Manchester City vs Southampton

CHANCE! Haaland should make it 2-0! How did he miss? Nunes whips a superb low cross into the penalty area and Haaland meets it at the far post and seems to have a tap-in from close range. However, he somehow sends it wide of the post!

Manchester City vs Southampton

OFF THE LINE! A corner is whipped in from the right and met by the head of Haaland, who powers a header towards the top right corner of the net. However, Harwood-Bellis does brilliantly to get back and head it off the line. Great defending by the centre-back.

Manchester City vs Southampton

Good chance! Foden whips a lovely free-kick deep into the penalty area, which Gvardiol heads back across goal towards Haaland, but Southampton get defenders back and clear it away for a corner.

Manchester City vs Southampton

Yellow Card Adam James Armstrong

Manchester City vs Southampton

CLOSE! City break forward quickly after the restart and race up the pitch, with Foden getting the ball on the edge of the box and unleashing an effort towards the bottom right corner of the net. However, it flies just wide of the post.

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