Erling Haaland’s goal propelled Manchester City to a provisional top spot in the Premier League. The champions clinched a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. This win places Pep Guardiola’s team at 23 points after nine games, two points ahead of Liverpool. Liverpool is set to face Arsenal on Sunday. Meanwhile, Southampton remains winless in their return to the top flight, sitting second-bottom with just one point.
FULL-TIME:
🦁 Aston Villa 1- Bournemouth 🍒
🐝 Brentford 4-3 Ipswich 🚜
🕊️ Brighton 2-2 Wolves 🐺
🔵 Man City 1-0 Southampton 😇#MCISOU #BREIPS #BHAWOL #AVLBOU pic.twitter.com/ocGON7kARr— Match Spoots (@matchspoots) October 26, 2024
Haaland Breaks Premier League Drought
Haaland, who dazzled with a stunning goal in Wednesday’s 5-0 Champions League win against Sparta Prague, had not scored in three Premier League matches. However, he ended this dry spell in the fifth minute on Saturday. In a tussle with defender Jan Bednarek, the 24-year-old Norwegian managed to toe-poke the ball into the net while falling.
Southampton’s Missed Opportunity
Southampton nearly equalized just before halftime. Cameron Archer had a golden opportunity but his shot hit the bar. This miss left Southampton still searching for their first win of the season.
Haaland’s Second Half Challenges
In the second half, Haaland, who leads the league with 11 goals, had several close attempts. He missed a clear chance from close range, leaving him in disbelief as he buried his head in his hands. Despite these near-misses, Haaland’s early goal was enough to secure the win for Manchester City.
