Manchester City will spend at least 24 hours at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a mediocre 1-0 victory over a spirited Southampton side at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland's drought-ending strike just five minutes in was the difference, but the reigning champions squandered an abundance of chances to add to their lead against Russell Martin's plucky troops, who showed a couple of flashes on the counter-attack and could be incredibly proud of their efforts.
In what may have been one of the biggest mismatches of the season on paper, the signs were ominous for the Saints just five minutes in, when Haaland ended his three-game Premier League dry spell with a wonderful improvised finish.
The Norwegian's strike inevitably preceded an onslaught of City attacks, but a defence-heavy Southampton managed to frustrate their more revered foes for the remainder of the first half, thanks partly to their staunch rearguard action and partly to the hosts' profligacy.
In customary Southampton fashion, the newly-promoted visitors had their fair share of the ball against the Premier League champions but did not do anything meaningful with it until the stroke of half time, when Cameron Archer smashed the crossbar.
Try as he might in the second half, the ball just would not go into the back of the net again for Haaland - no doubt to the chagrin of fantasy football managers everywhere - and he even added to his catalogue of howlers with an astonishing miss from a couple of yards out.
Penetration was eluding both the hosts and the visitors as the contest drew to a close, but Southampton never truly looked capable of snatching the unlikeliest of points, and their excruciating wait for a maiden Premier League win in 2024-25 goes on.
As City rise above Arsenal and Liverpool into first place before Sunday's Emirates showdown, the Saints have now slipped down to last place thanks to Wolverhampton Wanderers' late leveller in their 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
MAN CITY VS. SOUTHAMPTON HIGHLIGHTS
Erling Haaland goal vs. Southampton (5th min, Man City 1-0 Southampton)
The drought is over! Haaland could have gone four Premier League games without a goal for just the second time today, but the Scandinavian sensation is back to doing what he does best.
Matheus Nunes clips a cross in from the left, and Haaland is in an almighty tangle with Jan Bednarek, but he does brilliantly to get a shot away while falling down and finds the roof of Aaron Ramsdale's net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS
© Imago
Reuniting with the team he spent 16 years on the books at from 2008 to 2024, Taylor Harwood-Bellis put in the performance that he would have been dreaming about against his former employers, even if he and his teammates did come away empty-handed.
The 22-year-old produced a terrific clearance off the line early in the second half to deny Haaland his second - one of nine clearances he came up with in Manchester - as well as producing four blocks and completing 97% of his passes in an exemplary defensive display.
MAN CITY VS. SOUTHAMPTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Man City 58%-42% Southampton
Shots: Man City 22-5 Southampton
Shots on target: Man City 8-2 Southampton
Corners: Man City 12-1 Southampton
Fouls: Man City 8-9 Southampton
BEST STATS
Erling Haaland has now scored more Premier League goals (74) than Gabriel Jesus (73).
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) October 26, 2024
He's played 143 fewer games than the man he replaced at City. 👀#MCISOU pic.twitter.com/JK9lG9h0Ty
Man City's last four goals:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) October 26, 2024
🅰️ Matheus Nunes assist
🅰️ Matheus Nunes assist
⚽ Matheus Nunes goal
🅰️ Matheus Nunes assist
He now has five goal involvements in his last four starts for the Citizens. 💪#MCISOU pic.twitter.com/wzUj9TajvO
WHAT NEXT?
Following Sunday's nail-biting Arsenal vs. Liverpool viewing party, Man City have their own blockbuster battle to worry about, travelling to Tottenham Hotspur for Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round tie before a trip to Bournemouth next weekend.
As for the Saints, Martin's men host Stoke City in the last 16 of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, before welcoming fellow bottom-half battlers Everton to St Mary's on November 2, where they will search for their first top-flight win of the campaign at the 10th attempt.
Ben Knapton
