Erling Haaland scored a brace to help Man City produce one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Premier League. City’s ninth straight win in all competitions pulled them within five points of Arsenal, who travels to Anfield to face Liverpool. After an unimpressive first 44 minutes, City exploded into action as Haaland rose to rocket home Kevin De Bruyne’s cross, making the Belgian the fastest player in Premier League history to record 100 Premier League assists in only 237 appearances. For the first time in his City career, Jack Grealish scored back-to-back goals before Haaland stole the show with a stunning acrobatic finish to bring his season record to 30 Premier League goals and 44 in all competitions. He is only five goals short of Andy Cole’s (93/94) and Alan Shearer’s (94/95) Premier League record of 34.
Sekou Mara put Saints ahead with a neat finish, but City restored their three-goal lead a minute later when Julian Alvarez scored from the penalty spot after De Bruyne was fouled. Southampton suffered yet another humiliating defeat, remaining bottom of the Premier League and four points from safety.
City might have had a difficult evening as they played with a genuine lack of rhythm in the first half, similar to their performance when losing to Saints in the Carabao Cup on the night Nathan Jones masterminded Pep Guardiola. However, Southampton lacked the punch to produce any significant changes, giving home fans hope that an upset was on the way. On 44 minutes, Kamaldeen Sulemana blasted their greatest chance just part of the post, but the close call almost served as a wake-up call for Guardiola’s side, who went ahead shortly before the break.
De Bruyne was the architect down the left, clipping a ball that Haaland seized in the typical thunderous fashion, this time with a headed finish. It was De Bruyne’s seventh Premier League assist of the season, bringing the Belgian to 100 assists in the tournament. After the restart, City had an early chance to increase their lead when Grealish cut back to Ilkay Gundogan, who drove into the area but fired just wide of the right post.
But it wasn’t long until Grealish, who had been impressive throughout the first quarter, threatened once more, this time with a quick effort at Gavin Bazunu, who made the initial low stop but couldn’t hold on to the rebound. Grealish then took the role of provider, slowly weaving his way into the area before crossing to Haaland, who finished wonderfully with an overhead kick. Saints guaranteed that the visitors would not go home with a clean sheet as substitute Moussa Djenepo avoided two opponents and supplied Mara, who fired a low shot past Ederson. Any faint dreams of a comeback were quickly shattered as Kyle Walker-Peters pulled down De Bruyne in the box and Alvarez slammed home from the spot, replacing Haaland.
“In terms of the goal-scoring thesis. He and Cristiano are extremely similar, but Messi is the more complete player. Messi is a versatile player, whilst Cristiano and Erling are machines. Erling understands that those two players dominated for two decades, not just one or two seasons, winning championships and doing everything,” Man City head coach Pep Guardiola said. “Football is a better place for Cristiano and Messi because of what they have done for our business, the traction of these two guys competing at the big clubs. Erling is arriving in the toughest league in the world. I can talk because I’ve been in other leagues and doing what he has done is remarkable. Erling is here for these types of games, it was a little bit difficult, but he has the ability to break the game thanks to an incredible assist from Kevin [De Bruyne].”
“There were a lot of people conversing online, which you couldn’t really miss, but you try to generate as much as you can. I could have had another two or three. If they score, I receive an assist,” Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said. “I’m recognized for my ingenuity; not many players have 100 assists, but half of the side is mine, and the other half is the other. I don’t make comparisons. Cesc Fabregas is a terrific football player, and that’s all I can say. I try to make as many things as I can, and we score a lot of goals, which helps.”
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