So’ton 1 – 1 Man City

Southampton ended Manchester City’s winning run of 12 Premier League games after battling away to a 1-1 draw with the league leaders.

Kyle Walker-Peters sensationally put the Saints in front after a fine team move and finish but Aymeric Laporte headed Pep Guardiola’s side level in the second half. City struck the woodwork twice late on but could not find a winner.

City are now 12 points clear of Liverpool at the top but Jurgen Klopp’s team do have two games in hand.

The opening goal from Southampton was one Pep Guardiola would have been proud of had his side scored it. A switch of play saw Walker-Peters join the attack and his one-two with Nathan Redmond confused the City defence and allowed him the space to fire home a tasty half volley into the far corner. Not a bad way to score your first Premier League goal.

City’s first-half performance was described as “shocking” by Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness as they took 27 minutes to register their first shot on goal and even that was a speculative effort from Joao Cancelo that flew into the stands.

The visitors were probing but without much penetration. However, Raheem Sterling really should have finished a cross from six yards out but was denied by the giant frame of Fraser Forster.

A second-half onslaught towards the Southampton goal was expected but it was the home side that should have extended their lead. Ederson was quick to react to a Jan Bednarek header from close range before Armando Broja headed against the post following another dangerous James Ward-Prowse corner. Bednarek also had a chance from the rebound but blazed over to spare City.

Missing chances like that will always come to haunt you against City, who drew level on 65 minutes. A Kevin De Bruyne set-piece was drifted towards the back post and three City players were waiting to head home. It was left to Laporte to bullet the cross home meaning Saints have conceded 11 headed goals this season – no team have shipped more.

The goal lifted City to the levels we expect of them. De Bruyne – now running the show – bent a sumptuous effort off the frame of the goal before substitute Gabriel Jesus managed to hit the same post moments later after attacking a back-post cross.

City wanted a penalty on 78 minutes when De Bruyne was sandwiched on the edge of the box by Mohammed Salisu and Oriel Romeu but a VAR decided to stick with the on-field penalty call. It was a busy few minutes at Stockley Park as Stuart Armstong survived a VAR review for a high lunge on Laporte that was only deemed worthy of a yellow card.

A City winner looked nailed-on but credit to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team, they regained organisation and held on valiantly for their point.

What’s next?

Southampton host Coventry in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday February 5 at 3pm while Manchester City take on Fulham at the Etihad in the same competition at the same time.