Southampton hosted Manchester City on Sunday, at St. Mary’s, with the home team coming out on top.
With both teams chasing their respective European spots in the league, there was bound to be some competitive football played. City started the game with only three players who had started against Real Madrid a few days ago as Pellegrini chose to rest most of his players for City’s trip to Madrid in three days’ time.
Southampton began the game on the offensive and looked the more likely to open the scoring, but it was Raheem Sterling who had the first real chance of the game; his effort was saved brilliantly by Fraser Forster from close range. Moments later, thanks to some sloppy defending by Nicolas Otamendi, Shane Long was allowed to get in front of the Argentine and poke the Saints into the lead as well as score his 100th goal in English football.
Ronald Koeman’s men did not hold back and only three minutes later doubled their lead through Sadio Mane, who slotted home calmly. City looked dead and buried going into half time only for young Kalechi Iheanacho to head in from close-range to give his side a glimmer of home.
EPL – Player Ratings – Southampton 4 Manchester City 2
It took a little over 10 minutes from the restart for Southampton to regain control. Shoddier defending from a corner allowed Mane to tap in his second of the game to extend his side’s lead to 3-1. City lacked creativeness when they went forward and could not even summon an effort on target as Southampton moved forward in search for more.
And they got their reward as yet another through ball split the City defence, allowing Mane to round Joe Hart and score his second hat-trick of the campaign and put his side 4-1 up. City got another consolation goal from Iheanacho, who curled a fine effort from the edge of the box straight into the far top corner.
City’s defensive lapse
The Sky Blues have received a fair amount of criticism regarding their defence this season but they endured an especially torrid time at Southampton. City’s centre-backs looked like amateurs in a Sunday League game who simply could not deal with the Saints’ attacking force. Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala have commanded heavy price tags before moving to City but have been well below par since arriving. The fact that at least one of them will start alongside Vincent Kompany against an attacking Real Madrid side should worry a lot of City fans.
Although they seemed to have improved in recent weeks, there can be no excuses from the experienced pair for their performances at Southampton. Pellegrini can only hope for a better defensive showing against the 10-time Champions League winners.
Southampton continue fine form
The Saints convincingly ended City’s five match unbeaten run on Sunday, continuing to put on an impressive run themselves. They have now taken 13 points from their last six games, a feat only bettered by Leicester City and Tottenham. Koeman’s team has now climbed up to seventh position in the league as they look focused on attaining a place in next season’s Europa League.
They have scored 12 goals in only their last four games in the league and have played some excellent attacking football in recent weeks. The Saints are still not guaranteed a Europa League spot, as they have played a game more than the teams around them. They will face a tough trip to Spurs next week and judging by what happens on Monday’s game between them and Chelsea, Tottenham might still be battling for the title, making it an even more difficult outing for the Saints. Koeman’s side will then host Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, a game it must win if it is to stand a realistic chance of making it to Europe next season.
City’s focus on Champions league
While you cannot blame Manuel Pellegrini for focusing on this season’s Champions League rather than the league, it might cost his side more than he would like. The Chilean will not be at the Etihad next season after being replaced by Pep Guardiola and will be determined to end his reign in Manchester on a high. The Sky Blues have already won this season’s League Cup and are now at the penultimate stage in the Champions League.
While they have a great chance to win this year’s Champions League and thus automatically qualify for next season’s competition, they are running the risk of not being able to appear in the competition at all next season. As things stand, City occupy fourth spot in the league and are four points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United, although the Red Devils have a game in hand. Meaning, if City fail to win the Champions League this season and are to slip up again in the league, while their neighbours are to win their remaining matches, City will not be eligible to appear in the Champions League next season – surely not something a certain incoming manager would want to hear.
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