Erling Haaland was right on form to fire Manchester City to the top of the Premier League as the striker sealed a 1-0 win against Southampton on Saturday.
It had been three league games the Norwegian had gone without a goal but he ended that mini drought in the first half at the Etihad Stadium, which was enough to lift Pep Guardiola’s side into first place, two points ahead of second-placed Liverpool, who can regain pole position if they win Sunday’s blockbuster clash with title rivals Arsenal.
Not having conceded a league game at the Etihad for two years, a run encompassing 35 games, it was hardly likely for bottom-of-the-table Southampton, who have only one point from nine games this season, to shatter the defending champions’ impressive streak.
With Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku ruled out due to injury, Guardiola made four changes to the team that convincingly thrashed Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Haaland had scored an audacious goal against Sparta and while his effort to kill off Southampton was less spectacular, it was arguably far more valuable given the context of a tense title race shaping up amongst the leaders.
Matheus Nunes’ cross reached Haaland in the fifth minute and the Norwegian showed strength and desire to get to the ball ahead of his marker for a close-range strike.
City inadvertently fluffed several chances to increase their lead but Haaland’s 14th goal in all competitions this season gave the unbeaten champions seven wins from nine league matches as they chase a fifth successive title.
“The way Southampton played, they are so demanding. Big credit to them, it was not because we were sloppy or flat. I don’t have that feeling,” Guardiola said.
“We created chances and unfortunately couldn’t score the second. I think we were there and sometimes they are good. We have to accept that.”