manchester city went into the contest topping the Premier League standings, but they were under pressure as their city rivals, Manchester United had reduced City's lead at the top to just five points. The game pitted two managers who knew each other well having played at the same time at Barcelona. Manchester City looked the clear favorite, but it was obvious that the Saints were aiming to be the first side to inflict pain on the Citizens in this season's Premier League.
Southampton traveled to Manchester buoyed by the 4-1 thumping that they had handed Everton in the weekend.
The Saints were equally looking for their second away victory in the league this term having won on the league trip in September at Selhurst Park where they beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
What transpired
Manchester City made two changes from the team that started in the 2-1 success at Huddersfield Town at the weekend. David Silva and Leroy Sane gave way for Illakey Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus in the welcoming of the Saints. Raheem Sterling who scored the winner at the Terriers was also drafted in the starting team.
Mauricio Pellegrini made five changes from the squad that downed Everton at the weekend dropping Dusan Tadic, Charlie Austin, James Ward-Prowse, Steven Davis, and Sofiane Boufal. The five players gave way for Nathan Redmond, Oriol Romeu, Shane Long, Maya Yoshida, and Mario Lemina.
Also, the manager changed the team formation from 4-5-1 to 5-4-1.
Against many people's expectation, the game went into the break without any goal, and Manchester City wasn't leading. However, the Citizen took the lead two minutes after the restart. Kevin de Bruyne's free-kick took a massive deflection on the visitors' defenders allowing the ball to go past Ben Forster.
The goal was given to the Belgian midfielder who also emerged as the man of the match.
With fifteen minutes left before the end of the game, Oriol Romeu placed the ball from Sofiane Boufal at the roof of the net as the Saints grabbed an equalizer. Oriol Romeu who missed the 4-1 victory over Everton at the weekend due to suspension is a product of Barcelona Academy and had played under Pep Guardiola.
Southampton seemed poised to be the second team to deny Manchester City maximum points in the league in this term only to concede a late Raheem Sterling's goal in the stoppage minute. Manchester City's second Premier League game in August against Bournemouth was also headed for a 1-1 draw only for Raheem Sterling to score in the added minutes in a game that Sterling received two yellow cards.
History that Manchester City made with the win
- Manchester City beat their winning streak record that stood at eleven consecutive league matches. The Citizens have now won twelve Premier League matches in a row.
- The win against Southampton ensured that Manchester City remains on a winning streak of nineteen consecutive games in all competition- Pep Guardiola's best run at City.
- Manchester City had set the Premier League's best start at the weekend when the Citizens beat Huddersfield Town 2-1 to garner thirty-seven points in just thirteen league games. Manchester City has now taken the record to forty points in fourteen Premier League matches.
- The match saw Raheem Sterling score a winner in three consecutive matches though in two different competitions. The English international had scored the winner in the 1-0 over Feyenoord and the winner in the 2-1 win over the Terriers. Also, Raheem Sterling broke the record that he had set in the weekend by scoring most goals within a season in Manchester City's shirt.
