• MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6: Barely had to make a save. Distribution neat and confident as always. EPA
    MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6: Barely had to make a save. Distribution neat and confident as always. EPA
  • Joao Cancelo 9: Absolutely electric performance. Southampton just couldn't live with his pace and delivery. A constant threat with his breaks down the left wing, especially when he cut inside. Set up a hatful of chances for teammates, scored a brilliant solo goal for City's opener then produced a great cross for Haaland's goal. AFP
    Joao Cancelo 9: Absolutely electric performance. Southampton just couldn't live with his pace and delivery. A constant threat with his breaks down the left wing, especially when he cut inside. Set up a hatful of chances for teammates, scored a brilliant solo goal for City's opener then produced a great cross for Haaland's goal. AFP
  • Manuel Akanji 6: Read the game smartly. Raided forward to join the attack. Missed a right-footed shot just before half-time. EPA
    Manuel Akanji 6: Read the game smartly. Raided forward to join the attack. Missed a right-footed shot just before half-time. EPA
  • Ruben Dias 7: Mashalled the City defence with his usual coolness and composure. Missed a decent chance on 78 minutes. EPA
    Ruben Dias 7: Mashalled the City defence with his usual coolness and composure. Missed a decent chance on 78 minutes. EPA
  • Nathan Ake 6: Put his body on the line when required and showed his physical strength in dealing with rare Saints' attacks. Demonstrated his eye for a cultured pass. PA
    Nathan Ake 6: Put his body on the line when required and showed his physical strength in dealing with rare Saints' attacks. Demonstrated his eye for a cultured pass. PA
  • Kevin de Bruyne 7: Constantly pressing and probing. Played a superbly weighted ball to set up Foden's goal and another sublime through ball for Haaland that split the defence on 63 minutes. EPA
    Kevin de Bruyne 7: Constantly pressing and probing. Played a superbly weighted ball to set up Foden's goal and another sublime through ball for Haaland that split the defence on 63 minutes. EPA
  • Rodri 8: Superbly flighted ball to set up the Mahrez goal. Pulled the strings in midfield with consummate ease and quality. Getty
    Rodri 8: Superbly flighted ball to set up the Mahrez goal. Pulled the strings in midfield with consummate ease and quality. Getty
  • Bernardo Silva 7: A brilliant conductor of the City midfield. Orchestrates so many of their moves. EPA
    Bernardo Silva 7: A brilliant conductor of the City midfield. Orchestrates so many of their moves. EPA
  • Erling Haaland 7: Could have had a double hattrick but was not quite at his razor-sharp best. Still a constant threat, harrying the Saints' defence and linking up brilliantly with teammates. Finally got his goal with a crisp finish in the 65th minute. EPA
    Erling Haaland 7: Could have had a double hattrick but was not quite at his razor-sharp best. Still a constant threat, harrying the Saints' defence and linking up brilliantly with teammates. Finally got his goal with a crisp finish in the 65th minute. EPA
  • Riyad Mahrez 7: Always involved and missed a few difficult chances before a neatly executed volley brought him his reward in the 49th minute. Reuters
    Riyad Mahrez 7: Always involved and missed a few difficult chances before a neatly executed volley brought him his reward in the 49th minute. Reuters
  • Phil Foden, 8: His intelligent movement was a nightmare for the Southampton defence. Provided a lovely assist for Cancelo's opener before getting on the scoresheet himself after 32 minutes. Always at it. PA
    Phil Foden, 8: His intelligent movement was a nightmare for the Southampton defence. Provided a lovely assist for Cancelo's opener before getting on the scoresheet himself after 32 minutes. Always at it. PA
  • SUBS: Jack Grealish (on for Foden 58') 6: Good chance to score on 78 minutes but Bazunu tipped his effort over the bar. Perhaps could have done better with the shot. EPA
    SUBS: Jack Grealish (on for Foden 58') 6: Good chance to score on 78 minutes but Bazunu tipped his effort over the bar. Perhaps could have done better with the shot. EPA
  • Sergio Gomez (on for Cancelo 70') 5: Missed a decent chance on 81 minutes. EPA
    Sergio Gomez (on for Cancelo 70') 5: Missed a decent chance on 81 minutes. EPA
  • Julian Alvarez (on for De Bruyne 70') N/A. Little time to make an impact. Reuters
    Julian Alvarez (on for De Bruyne 70') N/A. Little time to make an impact. Reuters
  • Cole Palmer (on for Mahrez 70') N/A. No time to shine. AFP
    Cole Palmer (on for Mahrez 70') N/A. No time to shine. AFP
  • Rico Lewis (on for Bernardo Silva 78') N/A. Little imput. AFP
    Rico Lewis (on for Bernardo Silva 78') N/A. Little imput. AFP
  • SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Gavin Bazunu 8: Little he could do about the goals. Produced a string of superb saves to keep the scoreline in single figures. EPA
    SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Gavin Bazunu 8: Little he could do about the goals. Produced a string of superb saves to keep the scoreline in single figures. EPA
  • Kyle Walker-Peters 5: Given a torrid time by the superb Cancelo, particularly in the first half, but never threw in the towel. AFP
    Kyle Walker-Peters 5: Given a torrid time by the superb Cancelo, particularly in the first half, but never threw in the towel. AFP
  • Mohammed Salisu 5: Made several timely interventions but ultimately unable to cope with City's pace and movement. Out of position for City's second goal. Reuters
    Mohammed Salisu 5: Made several timely interventions but ultimately unable to cope with City's pace and movement. Out of position for City's second goal. Reuters
  • Armel Bella-Kotchap 5: Fought a losing battle against City's superiority but never lost heart. Made several last-ditch blocks. Reuters
    Armel Bella-Kotchap 5: Fought a losing battle against City's superiority but never lost heart. Made several last-ditch blocks. Reuters
  • Romain Perraud 3: Hard to think of a meaningful contribution. Reuters
    Romain Perraud 3: Hard to think of a meaningful contribution. Reuters
  • Stuart Armstrong 4: Chasing shadows for most of the game. A rasping drive from outside the box just before half-time went narrowly over the bar. Gave ball away sloppily for City's second goal. EPA
    Stuart Armstrong 4: Chasing shadows for most of the game. A rasping drive from outside the box just before half-time went narrowly over the bar. Gave ball away sloppily for City's second goal. EPA
  • James Ward-Prowse 4: Unable to exert any real creative influence on the the game. PA
    James Ward-Prowse 4: Unable to exert any real creative influence on the the game. PA
  • Ibrahima Diallo 4: Battled in vain to stem the City tide. AFP
    Ibrahima Diallo 4: Battled in vain to stem the City tide. AFP
  • Joe Aribo 3: Powerless to stop City's relentless march to victory. AFP
    Joe Aribo 3: Powerless to stop City's relentless march to victory. AFP
  • Che Adams 3: Broke into the City box on 64 minutes but could only produce a misplaced cross. EPA
    Che Adams 3: Broke into the City box on 64 minutes but could only produce a misplaced cross. EPA
  • Adam Armstrong 4: Precious little change out of City's well-drilled defensive unit. PA
    Adam Armstrong 4: Precious little change out of City's well-drilled defensive unit. PA
  • SUBS: Mohamed Elyounoussi (on for Adam Armstrong 66') 4: Wasted a good chance on 86 minutes when he dragged a left-foot shot wide. EPA
    SUBS: Mohamed Elyounoussi (on for Adam Armstrong 66') 4: Wasted a good chance on 86 minutes when he dragged a left-foot shot wide. EPA
  • Moussa Djenepo (on for Stuart Armstrong 66') 5: Showed some attacking intent. EPA; Sekou Mara (on for Aribo 79') N/A; Juan Larios (on for Walker-Peters 79': N/A.
    Moussa Djenepo (on for Stuart Armstrong 66') 5: Showed some attacking intent. EPA; Sekou Mara (on for Aribo 79') N/A; Juan Larios (on for Walker-Peters 79': N/A.

Man City v Southampton player ratings: Cancelo 9, Foden 8; Buzuna 8; Perraud 3


Stuart James
  • English
  • Arabic

Erling Haaland grabbed another goal as Manchester City blew Southampton away 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium to move to the top of the Premier League.

The powerhouse Norwegian striker was not quite at his razor-sharp best as he missed several good chances before finally scoring his side's fourth goal in the 65th minute.

That took his tally to 20 goals in 13 games since his £51 million move from Borussia Dortmund.

The superb Joao Cancelo tormented the Saints defence before opening the scoring for the home side with a brilliant solo goal after 20 minutes. Phil Foden doubled the lead after 32 minutes and Rodri made it 3-0 just after half-time before Haaland completed the rout.

The win takes Pep Guardiola's side to the top of the table on 23 points, although Arsenal, who play Liverpool on Sunday, can overtake them if they win their game in hand at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta's side currently have 21 points from eight games.

You can see the player ratings from Saturday's game in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: October 08, 2022, 5:47 PM