Kyle Walker-Peters surprisingly put the hosts ahead after a fine team move and a finish but Manchester City equalised through Aymeric Laporte in the second half.
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Southampton ended Manchester City’s 12-game winning run as the Premier League leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by the Saints on Sunday. Kyle Walker-Peters surprisingly put the hosts ahead after a fine team move and a finish but Manchester City equalised through Aymeric Laporte in the second half. Pep Guardiola’s side struck the woodwork on multiple occasions but couldn’t find the winner. However, despite the draw, leaders City still have a healthy 12-point lead over second-placed Liverpool, who will take on Crystal Palace on Sunday. .
A battling performance from the Saints earns a point against the league leaders ?#SOUMCI pic.twitter.com/b7xL7kSJD7
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 22, 2022
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Saints had a dream start to the game taking the lead inside the opening eight minutes. Right-back Walker-Peters raced forward after receiving the ball from a switch play, played a one-two with Nathan Redmond before curling a brilliant half-volley with the outside of his right foot past Ederson into the far bottom corner. It was the 24-year-old’s first Premier League goal.
Meanwhile, City were struggling to find their rhythm. Guardiola’s side took a bit of time to get into the game. Their first decent chance came in the 34th minute, when Raheem Sterling cut inside from the right side of the box before his left-foot curler went just over the bar. Few minutes later, Forster made a brilliant close-range save to deny Sterling from Phil Foden’s cross.
After the break, Jan Bednarek’s near post header from a corner was saved by Ederson. At the other end, Rodri tested Forster from outside the box. Rodri was getting closer as once again, his shot from outside the box struck the woodwork before City levelled the score from a set-piece.
Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick from the right flank was headed home by Laporte at the far post in the 64th minute. After the goal, City played with more intent as De Bruyne’s long-range effort hit the post before Gabriel Jesus headed into the same post after attacking a back-post cross. However, Southampton managed to hold onto the point.
After the match, Guardiola said: “We played really well. Unfortunately, in the first half we conceded a goal, but I think this was one of our best performances of the season, by far.
“They were incredibly organised and this is one of the best performances we played against them. Yes, the result was not good, but in terms of performance and the way we played, it was excellent.
“We played better than in the Arsenal game, when we won, and today we drew. Sometimes you deserve it and you don’t win, but the way we played here was excellent.
Manchester City vs Liverpool: Talking points from the action-packed draw
