Man City's winning run comes to a halt at Southampton as Aymeric Laporte's header wipes out Kyle Walker-Peters' early opener to leave Pep Guardiola's men 12 points clear at the top

At times, Pep Guardiola resembles King Cnut, protesting to the world that his team is not, in fact, infallible, the title race is never over in January (reader: sometimes it is) and that Premier League opponents are in fact decent sides rather than hapless victims for City to humiliate in a televisual entertainment fest.

Manchester City dropped points on Saturday for the first time since the clocks went back in October. Twelve successive victories have ensued since they lost to Crystal Palace. 

ADVERTISEMENT

And then this. So routine have City made winning look, you felt like laying into Guardiola, asking him how long could this fiasco go on, whether he had considered resignation and just what on earth was wrong with his team? 

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson (right) fails to stop Kyle Walker-Peters' superb early goal
Walker-Peters shows his satisfaction following a stylish first Premier League goal of his career

Cnut famously allowed the tide to envelop him to prove to his counsellors that he was no god who could hold back the sea. And so Guardiola dropped points at Southampton to demonstrate that football is more complicated than City sometimes make it look.

Show Player

He bore his inquisition with reasonable humour but was exasperated to be told his team had played badly in the first half.

‘Absolutely I disagree with you,’ the City manager said. But Pep, what about the excellent Kyle Walker-Peters goal on seven minutes, the times City were sliced asunder by Oriol Romeu through balls into Armando Broja? So, those latter chances were just offside, but proved City were playing a risky game.

‘It was a goal and then two actions which were offside,’ he explained with all the patience of a professor addressing dim-witted, feckless students.  

CHRIS FOY'S EXPERT OPINION  

Former Premier League referee gives his view on the big calls...  

76 mins — NO PENALTY

Kevin De Bruyne drives into the box, between Oriol Romeu and Mohammed Salisu, and goes down. Referee Simon Hooper decides there was not enough in it to give a penalty and waved play on.

VAR Darren England will have checked, and the first contact, as light as it was, was just outside the box (left). So it could not have been a penalty anyway.

79 mins — NO RED CARD

Stuart Armstrong comes in rashly on Aymeric Laporte with a high foot. Hooper blows for a foul and also gives a yellow card to the Southampton player for a reckless challenge.

VAR would have checked it as a possible red-card offence but decided —and correctly in my view — that the challenge was reckless and therefore worthy of no more than a caution.

The leg is high and Armstrong runs a risk with that, but it is a glancing touch, no more, and I am happy with the verdict.  

ADVERTISEMENT
Armando Broja slots a composed finish beyond Ederson after racing through in the first half
The young striker, who was impressive at both ends, had his effort ruled out by an offside flag

‘You have to understand that peoples can cross the half-way line. We are good but not good enough not to allow them chances that are offside, that are not even chances! To concede just two chances in 90 minutes is more than good. It was an exceptional performance.’

ADVERTISEMENT

Ah, but the Premier League title race, Pep. Maybe it is not over after all. All Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team have to do is win their two games in hand, match City win for win until April, win at The Etihad and they will be a mere three points behind with six to play. What about that Pep?

‘What can I say? I have told you before, that even if we had won today, it’s not over. In January? There are many games to play. I know how difficult it is so I didn’t need to win or lose or draw today to know how difficult it is.’

He is right of course, yet there is for neutrals a chink of light that there might be a title race. For Southampton did so much more than survive here. 

They thrived at times, they might even have won this game and they were again a credit to the tactical plan of Ralph Hassenhuttl, who greeted the final whistle as though a victory had been secured, as well he might. Points against Manchester City are hard won. 

Pep Guardiola holds a hand to his head as he watches his side struggle to shift the momentum
Saints continued to push forward after celebrating Walker-Peters' opener and kept City at bay

‘The first 10 minutes were exceptionally good,’ said Hassenhuttl. ‘We did everything we wanted to do but they have more gears than we have and when they switched to the next gear, we cannot follow. 

'They have 11 points ahead and they could also say: “well, we take the point”. But you always have the feeling that they hate to drop points.’

Then he reflected: ‘By the way, we dropped two points today.’

ADVERTISEMENT

And in a way they did. They might have won. They did however survive two late and long VAR reviews, one for a potential penalty for a foul by Mohammed Salisu on Kevin De Bruyne, which was deemed outside the box and another for a potential red card for a foul by Stuart Armstrong on Aymeric Laporte.

And they deserved it. Southampton threw everything at this game. They managed to cause a significant amount of mayhem for City with just 26 per cent possession. This was as good a first-half performance as we have seen against Manchester City. 

There was the sight of James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu, utterly disciplined, both lovely passers of the ball, dominating midfield when they had possession and frustrating the visitors when they did not. 

Raheem Sterling spurns a golden chance before the break, shooting too close to Fraser Forster
Sterling was part of a misfiring display and was replaced by Gabriel Jesus before City scored

There was Nathan Redmond putting in a shift tracking back to make the 4-4-2 work. At one point late in the second half, he was to be found on the edge of the Southampton box, blocking a shot as Kevin De Bruyne sized up what looked to have the making of an exquisite equaliser.

There was a sneakiness and guile to Southampton as well. Such as when Jan Bednarek planted his studs on Jack Grealish’s ankle. He received a yellow card but it was the third time he had tried something like that. 

Romeu hauled the City man to his feet, suggesting that this was elaborate play acting — it was not — and a shoving match ensued.

And then there was the goal. Romeu was just superb in midfield in that first half and his cross-field ball to Walker-Peters on the right was sublime.

ADVERTISEMENT

Walker-Peters then combined with Redmond but what really made the moment was the manner in which Walker-Peters took the return ball, controlling with his left and then striking with the outside of his right through a forest of players, to give it just enough swerve to beat Ederson and curl inside the post.

When City did show themselves at their best, Fraser Forster stood tall. Phil Foden did superbly down the left to roll a ball into an unmarked Raheem Sterling. With time and space to finish from eight yards, he flunked it, seemingly intimidated by the sight of a huge Forster in goal.  

Aymeric Laporte (second from right) earns Manchester City a point 20 minutes after the break
Laporte celebrates during a tense match in which Southampton had a goal ruled out for offside

Southampton did not stop at half time, either. A Ward-Prowse corner on 49 minutes saw Ederson having to react smartly to save an excellent Bednarek header. Then they broke City’s lines again on 52 minutes, Broja again running in behind the centre backs. 

This time Laporte managed to recover to block his shot and force a corner. Yet from the ensuing Ward-Prowse corner, the ball broke for Broja again, two yards out. His header rebounded off the post.

But league leaders City were level on 65 minutes. Guardiola had cited Ward-Prowse as the best free-kick taker in the world prior to the match.

But this really was something else from De Bruyne. He floated the ball over the Southampton defenders and into Laporte’s line of sight with millimetre-like precision.

Running on to the ball, Laporte headed home firmly for 1-1.

So Ward Prowse might be the best at set-pieces, but De Bruyne’s not bad, is he?, Guardiola was asked. ‘Absolutely not,’ he replied. ‘He’s the second best.’ And finally we had a smile from the City manager.

ADVERTISEMENT
 

Sportsmail's Ben Miller had live Premier League coverage of Southampton vs Manchester City.

  • Sportsmail Reporter

    Host commentator

View new posts
19:32

19:24
Full-time: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

Southampton end Manchester City's 12-match unbeaten run! Saints deservedly hold the league leaders, who hit back through Laporte's second-half header. Thanks for joining our live coverage - Sportsmail will have a full match report and all the reaction coming up.


19:18
80 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

This has been an impressively tenacious display from Southampton. City may be pleased to emerge with a point, which would move them 12 points clear of Liverpool, who will have two matches in hand.

There will be six minutes of added time.


19:08
80 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

You wait almost an entire match for VAR to intervene, and then it appears twice in three minutes.

Armstrong is under scrutiny for a rash challenge on Laporte near the halfway line. He challenged with a high foot for a bouncing ball and receives a yellow card.


19:07
78 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

VAR official Darren England is having a look at a potential foul on De Bruyne by Salisu - or possibly Romeu, who was also challenging - which could result in a City penalty. This is a long check, with plenty of predictable whistles. The debate appears to be around whether any foul was inside the penalty area.

No penalty. Loud cheers. Unless they have their own sting in the tail, Saints probably need to hold out for around 15 minutes longer.

19:05
76 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

Here's the moment when City equalised. Southampton appear to have weathered the post-goal storm of attacks.


19:00
72 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

Forster does well to deny Jesus at the far post following a City cross from the left. In between the dizzying action, Bednarek was replaced by Lyanco for Southampton.


18:59
70 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

De Bruyne hits the post! The City maestro lines up a shot from outside the penalty area in a central position, curling a thunderous shot past Forster but not the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

18:58

18:57
68 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

That's the 11th headed goal conceded this season in the Premier League by Southampton, who are now on the ropes somewhat. Foden is among the City players to try their luck at goal as the newly-level visitors continue to press.


18:54
65 mins: Southampton 1-1 Manchester City

Laporte levels for City! The defender wheels away to celebrate in front of the cameras, having gladly accepted the opportunity to meet a De Bruyne free-kick, delivered accurately onto his unmarked head from outside the penalty area on the right, beyond Forster at his near post. All-square!


18:51
60 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Change for City: can Jesus save them? He's on for Sterling, who will rue that close-range shot he sent straight at Forster during the first half.

A sign of Guardiola's increasing anxiety over the scoreline, no doubt. We're around half an hour away from what could be a seismic upset. Liverpool will be watching this intently.

18:48
59 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Rodri has time to tee himself up just outside the penalty area in a central position after Silva finds him with a low ball from the right. His second attempt from this range in quick succession curls onto the top of Forster's net.

With every spurned chance for City, the Southampton fans seem to become louder.

18:46
58 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Foden shows fine technique to fire a first-time shot at Forster from the left-hand side of the penalty area, lashing in a volley after Silva finds him with a chipped diagonal cross.

That was a reasonably routine save for the goalkeeper, parrying the strike to safety. This is end-to-end fare so far in the second half, with neither side willing to hold back.


18:45
57 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Romeu and Grealish are exchanging non-pleasantries again following their first-half altercation. That could be one to look out for as the tension rises.


18:44
53 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Broja threatens again! A huge roar of anticipation goes up as the youngster, released by a dangerous pass from the halfway line by Armstrong, races clear to the right of centre and enters the penalty area with Ederson racing out.

The backpedalling Laporte stabs the danger behind in the nick of time. Southampton then almost score from the ensuing attack, Broja nodding against the post at close quarters after a high ball causes confusion in the City goalmouth.

Bednarek lashes the rebound wide, and an infringement may have been spotted. Nevertheless, Southampton are doing more than clinging on here.

18:38
49 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Better from City: Rodri scuffs a half-volley into the turf from just outside the penalty area in a central position, forcing Forster to tip the shot around his left-hand post.

Broja is then alert to stop Laporte reaching a cross from the right at the far post. Stout defending from the striker and his team.


18:36
47 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Southampton, who restarted the action and are attacking from left to right, almost score from a corner on their left! Bednarek meets it at close range at the near post and thinks he's glanced the ball past Ederson, only for the goalkeeper to paw the danger away with an instinctive stop. Good save!

18:34

18:25
Half-time: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Graeme Souness is not impressed with Foden for the goal, accusing the England youngster of failing to track back properly. 'Pep will be going mad with his team,' he reckons. 'His team have not been at it today. Their passing has been shocking; nothing's been sharp about them. I just feel that City are a yard short of where they need to be and their passing is not crisp enough.'

18:22

18:19
Half-time: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Southampton will feel some relief at reaching the break ahead against a misfiring Man City, although Walker-Peters' terrific early goal is worthy of separating these teams.

Saints have gone ten games without a clean sheet. City - in case you haven't heard - had won 12 in a row coming into this. Could that almost all-conquering streak be coming to an end? Southampton are 45 minutes away from a famous result.


18:15
45 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Here's that save from Forster. The goalkeeper probably couldn't believe that Sterling hit his effort straight at him.

Salisu performs a heroic challenge to stop a Walker cross inside the penalty area on the right as two minutes of added time are signalled.


18:13
42 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Vital interception from Redmond. The livewire, who set up the goal, does just enough to intercept a pass heading towards De Bruyne inside the penalty area on the right.

Rodri then tries a tricky shot, cushioning a ball that falls to him outside the penalty area on his chest in a central position and firing in a low drive that rolls wide of Forster's right-hand post.

Southampton are closing in on a half-time lead.

18:09
38 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Shocking miss from Sterling! It's a save from Forster, to be more accurate, but not one the Southampton goalkeeper should have been able to make. Foden shows skilful trickery to bewilder Bednarek inside the penalty area on the left, sending in a low cross that the stumbling Perraud can't quite reach.

That affords Sterling possession at point-blank range, only for the England hotshot's first-time strike to be hit straight at Forster, who stops it. That is a huge chance.

18:07

18:06
35 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Sterling fashions some space inside the penalty area on the right, cutting back and curling in a shot that arcs over the far upright of Forster's goal. Southampton still look reasonably comfortable.


18:03
32 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Grealish is annoyed with Romeu for what he perceives as some play-acting after a bad challenge by Bednarek sends the England midfielder to the floor.

Ward-Prowse encourages Grealish to step away. Some in the crowd sing 'he's going to cry in a minute.' Bednarek is booked.

18:01
29 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Southampton have a decent-looking shout for a penalty after Ederson appears to bring Broja down, clipping him with his fingertips in an attempt to stop the forward charging across the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Fortunately for City, the offside flag is up again. Cancelo then wastes an opportunity to cross from City's left. Here's a shot of that goal Broja had disallowed earlier.


17:58
27 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Foden and Grealish combine neatly down the left, finding themselves thwarted by a crowd of Southampton players.

Cancelo then takes aim from a position outside the penalty area to the left of centre, flinging a shot comfortably over the crossbar to a loud cheer from the home fans.


17:55
Saints find the net again!

It's offside, though, Broja racing onto a ball down the left, taking a touch with his right foot to move into the City penalty area beyond Walker and finishing coolly with his left to beat Ederson.

If Broja looked like he half-expected the flag to be up, Hasenhuttl entertainingly didn't. The Southampton manager was off his feet on the touchline celebrating what he believed was his side's second.

17:52
17:52
22 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Even if City hit back, this is a moment that will live long in the memories of Walker-Peters and Saints supporters. They've kept the champions at bay since then.


17:49
17 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

De Bruyne attempts a low ball down the left to Cancelo, whose attempted cross from the byline is not a threatening one.

Walker-Peters' first Premier League goal continues to separate these sides. What a time - and way - to break his duck.


17:45
13 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Plenty to ponder for Pep, no doubt. City made a bright start but Guardiola had warned of the threat Southampton have posed to his side in previous editions of this fixture. The action has been relatively subdued since that glorious opening goal.

Southampton have won against both of the previous sides to visit this stadium as table-toppers, seeing off Liverpool and Everton last season. Can they make it a hat-trick of upsets? There's an awfully long way to go.


17:37
7 mins: Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

Southampton take the lead! It's a beauty from an unlikely candidate, too, Walker-Peters charging into City territory on the right and exchanging passes with Redmond, who clips a perceptive pass back into his teammate's path inside the penalty area on the same side.

With Laporte in front of him, Walker-Peters lashes a first-time strike with the outside of his boot that flies beyond Ederson and into the far corner of the net. A goal worthy of unlocking a notoriously tight defence, and a superb opener for the hosts!


17:37
5 mins: Southampton 0-0 Manchester City

Now Southampton have a chance, Ward-Prowse measuring in a cross from beyond midway in City's half on the left. Salisu rises well to meet it, glancing the opportunity wide of the far post. Promising for Saints.


17:34
3 mins: Southampton 0-0 Manchester City

City win a corner down their left following that free-kick, which Southampton clear. The visitors are already applying pressure and have had the ball for much of the match so far.

While City stroke possession around, here's a shot of the pre-game light show.


17:31
We're off!

City, attacking from left to right in dark blue, start us off. A rendition of 'When the Saints go marching in' immediately resounds. Romeu concedes an early free-kick in a dangerous area on the left, having impeded Grealish.


17:29
Ready?

We're seconds from kick-off here. Guardiola is making a point to a member of his staff on the bench. Both managers have opted for black coats today.

17:27
Guarded Guardiola

Pep claims City 'always' find it 'tough' against these opponents. 'It will be no exception today,' he predicts. 'And in the rest of the games we have this season, it will be difficult.'


17:25
Pep speaks!

City's boss has been pointing out that his team's early exit from the Carabao Cup has afforded them a break recently - and he's also expressed the kind of sentiments you'd expect from a coach whose team has such a sizeable supremacy at the top of the table.

'We are going to drop points, we are going to lose games,' Guardiola shrugs to Sky Sports. 'It's about how we are going to react. It's normal, after 12 victories in a row, that people start to think, "oh, they are invincible." But that is not true: we are going to drop points. It may not be today but it is going to happen. We are in the last week of January, no-one is champion. There remain incredibly tough games ahead of us.'

17:18

17:18
Fifteen minutes to go!

Foden takes aim in the warm-up.

17:15
17:14

17:11
'Don't hide'

Saints supremo Ralph Hasenhuttl has this to say to Sky Sports: 'City are very used to playing against defending teams and finding solutions. It's very difficult to defend against. We want to make it active - don't hide, try to be brave, like we always do. This is what we are known for and what makes us successful, sometimes, against the big teams. This is what we will try today.'


17:07
'I can't see anyone bridging that gap'

Former City defender Micah Richards has been holding forth on the game. 'I can't see anyone bridging that gap, if I'm totally honest,' he tells Sky Sports. 'A lot of people are saying the title race is over, but it's not. I know Liverpool will keep coming. Chelsea have had a little bit of a blip but they always believe they can recover.'

17:04
Under half an hour to go!

This fan has opted to take a seat outside St Mary's. Inside, the players are warming up - Southampton's will be sitting in the top half of the table, should they earn a shock win this evening.


16:50
Saints on song

Southampton have won three and drawn four of their last seven here; their best unbeaten home run in almost six years. What a result it would be to stop a City side who are in such formidable form themselves.


16:45
Good omens?

Southampton are welcoming a City team on a forebodingly brilliant run, but they evidently relish rattling the cage of the pacesetters, having emerged victorious from their last two Premier League home matches against visitors starting the day top of the table. Saints beat Liverpool and - distant memory here, Toffees fans - Everton on those occasions last season.


16:42
Southampton vs Manchester City - it's live!

Hello and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of this Premier League clash from St Mary's!

Here are the teams...

Southampton: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, S Armstrong, Broja, Adams

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Foden, Grealish