Haaland scores again as champions Man City go top

Erling Haaland scored his 20th goal for Manchester City as his side swept Southampton aside to move top of the Premier League.

City attacked relentlessly from the start and Haaland was within inches of giving them an early lead when - to the surprise of virtually the entire stadium - he hit the inside of the post after galloping clear.

Instead it was Joao Cancelo who put the home side ahead, running on to Phil Foden's pass and cutting past James Ward-Prowse before finding the bottom corner of the net.

Foden, who like Haaland scored a hat-trick here against Manchester United last weekend, got on the scoresheet himself soon afterwards with a dinked finish after Kevin de Bruyne found him in space in the box.

That put City in complete control at the break and they wrapped up the points at the start of the second half when Mahrez volleyed home a Rodri cross.

The only thing missing for the home fans was another Haaland goal and, after three successive home league hat-tricks, for once it appeared it might not be his day.

Haaland was unable to get on the end De Bruyne's cross under pressure from Mohammed Salisu, and then brilliantly denied by Bazunu, who dived at his feet as he charged through at goal.

As the chances kept coming however, you just knew Haaland would take one - and so he did, meeting Cancelo's cutback with a typically precise low finish to make it 4-0 after 65 minutes.

Southampton, who managed only one touch in the City area and a total of two shots - both from distance, and both off target - drew home and away against Pep Guardiola's side last season. This time, they never looked like avoiding a fourth-straight defeat.

City were last in top spot on 20 August and might not stay there for long - Arsenal will return to the summit if they beat Liverpool on Sunday.

Regardless of their current position in the table, though, it is clear the defending champions are in the sort of form which will worry all of their title rivals.

City are the last unbeaten side in England's top four divisions but it is the way they are despatching opponents that is the most ominous sign.

City's stroll against Saints means they have now scored 33 goals in nine league games, 13 more than Arsenal who have the next best tally.

Having Haaland obviously helps - he now has 15 league goals for the season, matching the tally of De Bruyne when he finished as top scorer in that competition in 2021-22 - but his team-mates keep scoring too.

Southampton's performance was far more important to their manager's cause than the end result.

Reports this week suggested Ralph Hasenhuttl is on the brink of the sack after four years at St Mary's, but his side did not play like one that has given up on their manager.

True, damage limitation was always their main aim but that has not saved others from worse drubbings at Etihad Stadium this season.

Hasenhuttl must have feared the worst when City came flying out of the blocks but his side defended well, and continued to do so even when the game was long since lost.

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

with an average of 7.42

Manchester City

1. Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne

   Average rating

   7.42

2. Squad number47Player nameFoden

   Average rating

   7.40

3. Squad number7Player nameJoão Cancelo

   Average rating

   7.22

4. Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez

   Average rating

   6.97

5. Squad number80Player namePalmer

   Average rating

   6.92

6. Squad number21Player nameGómez

   Average rating

   6.90

7. Squad number9Player nameHaaland

   Average rating

   6.89

8. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva

   Average rating

   6.83

9. Squad number26Player nameMahrez

   Average rating

   6.82

10. Squad number10Player nameGrealish

    Average rating

    6.78

11. Squad number82Player nameLewis

    Average rating

    6.73

12. Squad number16Player nameRodri

    Average rating

    6.62

13. Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias

    Average rating

    6.56

14. Squad number25Player nameAkanji

    Average rating

    6.44

15. Squad number31Player nameEderson

    Average rating

    6.40

16. Squad number6Player nameAké

    Average rating

    6.39

Southampton

1. Squad number31Player nameBazunu

   Average rating

   6.07

2. Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong

   Average rating

   6.04

3. Squad number10Player nameAdams

   Average rating

   5.97

4. Squad number7Player nameAribo

   Average rating

   5.88

5. Squad number15Player namePerraud

   Average rating

   5.87

6. Squad number37Player nameBella-Kotchap

   Average rating

   5.80

7. Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters

   Average rating

   5.79

8. Squad number22Player nameSalisu

   Average rating

   5.78

9. Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong

   Average rating

   5.70

10. Squad number27Player nameDiallo

    Average rating

    5.69

11. Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse

    Average rating

    5.49

12. Squad number28Player nameJuan Larios

    Average rating

    5.16

13. Squad number18Player nameMara

    Average rating

    4.98

14. Squad number19Player nameDjenepo

    Average rating

    4.97

15. Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi

    Average rating

    4.94