Player Ratings: Southampton 1-4 Manchester City (Premier League)

Manchester City breezed past Southampton on the coast to keep the pressure on league leaders Arsenal.

It was a fairly slow and laboured first half from City, but the visitors turned on the style towards the end of the first half and were rewarded when Erling Haaland thumped home a Kevin De Bruyne cross.

Jack Grealish doubled City’s lead after the break before assisting a stunning Haaland overhead kick and, though the Saints pulled one back, a penalty from substitute Julian Alvarez secured all three points.

Haaland is now up to 30 league goals for the campaign with up to nine games left to play, giving the big striker a mouth-watering chance to break the record of 34, which was set in a 42-game season.

Here’s how we rated the players…

Ederson – 6

Did well to save a Sulemana 1v1 in the first half and wasn’t really at fault for the Saints goal.

John Stones – 6

Taken off after an hour, though I’m not sure he did much wrong – it was more about getting the pace of Walker involved.

Manuel Akanji – 6

As with most of the season, I thought Akanji mostly played well, with just one or two shaky moments that he more than made up for with his good work.

Ruben Dias – 7

The difference since Dias returned to the team has been evident, with this archetypal Dias performance – confident, physical and complete with some great tackling – an example.

Nathan Aké – 7

Used his pace well to pressure Sulemana into wasting an early one-on-one chance. Still very much in the running for City’s player of the season shortlist.

Rodri – 7

His physicality stood out today as he stopped plenty of counter-attacks.

Ilkay Gundogan – 7

Not as sharp as we know he can be, but I thought he grew into the game and was more like his usual self in the second half.

Kevin De Bruyne – 8

After a tricky start, the Belgian came alive at the end of the first half and produced an excellent cross to give City the lead. Involved again with a trademark pass to Grealish for the second, and it’s a shame he won’t get the assist.

Kevin De Bruyne has now provided 𝟭𝟬𝟬 #PL assists! 🎯💯 pic.twitter.com/kcNgm7otoE

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 8, 2023

Riyad Mahrez – 5

Can have no complaints about being hooked before the hour mark – Mahrez was well below his best.

Erling Haaland – 9 (Man of the Match)

Scored his 29th league goal of the season with a typical thumping header. We were told he would be a stat-padder, but yet again the Norwegian comes up with a big goal. Also did well in the build-up to the second…

But of course, the moment of the match was the acrobatic third, quite possibly his best league goal for us. The technique alone on that effort was absolutely ridiculous.

Jack Grealish – 8

Though the first half was a noticeable drop-off from his form of the last few months, Jack did well to keep himself onside before racing onto De Bruyne’s pass and score (even if the rebound was a touch fortunate).

Then the assist for Haaland’s second was a brilliant cross… unlucky not to go down as the man of the match.

Substitutes:

Bernardo Silva – 6

Came on to add some energy on the right side, did that and very nearly capped it with a goal on two occasions.

Kyle Walker – 6

Came on to blunt Southampton’s frequent counter-attacks, but didn’t cover himself in glory for Mara’s strike that ruined the clean sheet.

Julian Alvarez – 7

Involved in the build-up as always, and it won City a penalty which he then scored emphatically.

Sergio Gomez – 6

Got some much-needed minutes.

Kalvin Phillips – 6

Another good cameo as he builds up fitness.