Southampton ended Manchester City’s 12-game winning run in the Premier League on Saturday after juicy 1-1 draw the league leaders.
After a fantastic team play and finish, Kyle Walker-Peters put the Saints in ahead, but Aymeric Laporte equalized for Pep Guardiola’s side in the second half. Late in the game, City hit the crossbar twice but were unable to score.
City now leads Liverpool by 12 points, but Jurgen Klopp’s side still has two games in hand.
Southampton’s first goal was one that Pep Guardiola would have been proud of if his team had scored it.
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Walker-Peters joined the attack after a switch of play, and his one-two with Nathan Redmond bewildered the City defence, giving him the opportunity to strike a delicious half-volley into the far corner.
It’s not a horrible way to score your first goal in the Premier League.Sky Sports analyst Graeme Souness characterized City’s first-half performance as “shocking,” as it took them 27 minutes to register their first shot on goal, which was a speculative effort from Joao Cancelo that soared into the bleachers.
The visitors probed but didn’t delve too deeply. Raheem Sterling, on the other hand, should have completed a cross from six yards out but was thwarted by Fraser Forster’s massive frame.
A second-half barrage on Southampton’s goal was to be expected, but the hosts should have extended their lead.
Following another dangerous James Ward-Prowse corner, Ederson was quick to react to a Jan Bednarek header from close range, before Armando Broja headed against the post.
On the rebound, Bednarek had an opportunity, but he blazed over to save City.
Missing chances like that against City, who pulled level on 65 minutes, will always come back to get you. Three City players were waiting to head home after a Kevin De Bruyne set-piece had floated towards the back post.
It was left to Laporte to head home the cross, meaning Saints have now conceded 11 headed goals this season, the most of any team.
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The goal propelled City to the heights we have come to expect from them. De Bruyne, who is now in charge, curled a magnificent attempt just wide of the post, while substitute Gabriel Jesus struck the same post moments later after attacking a back-post cross.
When De Bruyne was sandwiched on the edge of the box by Mohammed Salisu and Oriel Romeu on 78 minutes, City demanded a penalty, but a VAR chose to stick with the on-field penalty call.
Stuart Armstong escaped a VAR review for a high lunge on Laporte that was only assessed worthy of a yellow card.A City winner appeared to be a foregone conclusion, but credit to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad for regaining their composure and fighting courageously for their point.
