Man City

Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland's effect on opposition defenders is helping Kevin De Bruyne to be at his creative best.

Match gallery](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/city-v-southampton-gallery-pl-8-oct-63800831) After a game every three days the players react like who they are." [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne) is free to find more space. He was not in the position we should find him but Kevin has Julian, Phil and these players who make movements in behind." [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden), Riyad [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) and Haaland. [Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola).

Manchester City beat Southampton 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to move top of the table before Arsenal face Liverpool on Sunday.

You have to be very brave, we did it two times in the first half and gave them chances. "It's better to be early there and go early. It's fine, after three days a game, the players react and behave again like who they are." In the end he was there to score it. He helped to keep the ball, fight. He said: "In general we played good, a team we struggled [against] last season, every time we played them.

Norwegian scores for seventh match in a row as Saints beaten 4-0, while Chelsea and Spurs win.

[Crystal Palace](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/6/Crystal-Palace/overview) will look to move away from the bottom three at home to [Leeds United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/9/Leeds-United/overview). [Patson Daka](https://www.premierleague.com/players/24994/Patson-Daka/stats), but two second-half goals inside four minutes from [Philip Billing](https://www.premierleague.com/players/8882/Philip-Billing/stats) and [Ryan Christie](https://www.premierleague.com/players/15572/Ryan-Christie/overview), his first in the Premier League, claimed the three points that lift the Cherries to eighth. [Chelsea](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/4/Chelsea/overview) are in the UEFA Champions League spots after goals from [Kai Havertz](https://www.premierleague.com/players/20810/Kai-Havertz/stats), [Christian Pulisic](https://www.premierleague.com/players/15559/Christian-Pulisic/stats) and [Armando Broja](https://www.premierleague.com/players/31442/Armando-Broja/stats), his first for the club, eased them to a 3-0 victory over [Wolverhampton Wanderers](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/38/Wolverhampton-Wanderers/overview), who remain in the relegation zone on six points. [Harry Kane](https://www.premierleague.com/players/3960/Harry-Kane/stats)'s eighth goal of the season gave Spurs a first-half lead and they were able to hold firm after the break as [Roberto De Zerbi](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/118012/Roberto-De%20Zerbi/overview) suffered a loss in his first home match in charge of the Seagulls, who sit sixth. [Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/21/Tottenham-Hotspur/overview) bounced back from their north London derby defeat by beating [Brighton & Hove Albion](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/131/Brighton-and-Hove-Albion/overview) 1-0 at Amex Stadium to stay third and end the hosts' seven-month unbeaten home run. [AFC Bournemouth](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/127/Bournemouth/overview) extended their five-match unbeaten run under interim head coach [Gary O’Neil](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/128847/Gary-O'Neil/overview) as they fought back to beat [Leicester City](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/26/Leicester-City/overview) 2-1 at Vitality Stadium. [Newcastle United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/23/Newcastle-United/overview) are up to fifth after they cruised past [Brentford](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/130/Brentford/overview) 5-1 at St James’ Park to celebrate the first anniversary of their takeover. [Joao Cancelo](https://www.premierleague.com/players/5051/Jo%C3%A3o-Cancelo/stats), [Phil Foden](https://www.premierleague.com/players/14805/Phil-Foden/stats) and [Riyad Mahrez](https://www.premierleague.com/players/8983/Riyad-Mahrez/stats) had earlier put City in command to send them two points clear of [Arsenal](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/1/Arsenal/overview), who host [Liverpool](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/10/Liverpool/overview) tomorrow. [Everton](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/7/Everton/overview) will look to claim a third win in a row when they host [Manchester United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Manchester-United/overview). There is also a London derby between [West Ham United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/25/West-Ham-United/overview) and [Fulham](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/34/Fulham/overview). [Bruno Guimaraes](https://www.premierleague.com/players/74761/Bruno-Guimar%C3%A3es/stats) scored twice, while goals from [Jacob Murphy](https://www.premierleague.com/players/9662/Jacob-Murphy/stats), [Miguel Almiron](https://www.premierleague.com/players/54312/Miguel-Almir%C3%B3n/stats) and an [Ethan Pinnock](https://www.premierleague.com/players/22043/Ethan-Pinnock/stats) own goal sealed [Eddie Howe](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/8060/Eddie-Howe/overview)'s biggest win at the club. But the forward was unable to register a fourth consecutive home hat-trick.

Football Insider has been told by Noel Whelan that Erling Haaland's reported Man City pay packet just highlights the "difference" between the rest of the ...

“It’ll bring money back into the club by winning them trophies, I’m sure. It will provide a huge cash injection. Noel Whelan has insisted Erling Haaland’s reported Man City pay packet just highlights the “difference” between the rest of the Premier League and the “top six” clubs.

Manchester City continued their imperious home form while Chelsea and Newcastle United enjoyed victories in the Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur ...

We had to hang on a bit in the second half but overall we deserved to win." It was a scrappy goal but I'm really proud of the boys," said Kane, who stooped to meet a cross from Son Heung-min and glanced it into the net. City have won all five of their Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 24 goals in the process.

Could City's superb start to the campaign continue against a side who twice denied the Blues victory in the Premier League last season?

[FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RECAST](https://recast.tv/ManCity) [FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CITY+](https://www.mancity.com/city-plus) [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) doubled the lead 12 minutes later and there would be further strikes from Riyad [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) and [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) after the break as the Blues secured a 4-0 victory to move back to the top of the Premier League.

Erling Haaland struck his 20th goal of the season as Manchester City strolled to the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 demolition of Southampton at the ...

Guardiola has had some stern words for Mahrez on his physical conditioning in the early weeks of the season, but there were sparks of the Algerian's best as he volleyed home Rodri's cross to kill off the encounter as a contest. The surprise was that for once Haaland was not leading the charge as the 22-year-old's streak of hat-tricks in home Premier League games came to an end at three. Erling Haaland struck his 20th goal of the season as Manchester City strolled to the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 demolition of Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Report and free match highlights as Manchester City cruise past Southampton thanks to goals from Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland; ...

"We had, in the first half, two things where we did not slide and they played so quick and there is immediately a big chance. He had been switched to right-back in the absence of Kyle Walker in midweek but whichever flank that Cancelo plays on he is a creative force. I think this then makes it a little bit harder for us then to press. The supporters seemed a little bemused by it, so accustomed have they become to seeing him score. He helped us again, he keeps the ball and fights. Even the club stuck him on the front page of the programme for this one. The goal maintained Haaland's outrageous scoring while heaping further misery on Hasenhuttl but perhaps the story of this game is that the striker's goals were not needed. Cancelo was the best player on the pitch, while Foden rivalled him until being withdrawn just before the hour mark. The finish for his goal was even cuter, dinking the ball beyond Gavin Bazunu after being played in by De Bruyne. Jack Grealish dropped to the bench with Riyad Mahrez coming in. The 22-year-old forward had been rested against FC Copenhagen in midweek along with Kevin De Bruyne and their return provided the impetus. Joao Cancelo's brilliant solo run started the scoring midway through the first half and Phil Foden added a second soon after with City utterly dominant.

The Blues hit four goals without reply with a classy, dominant performance at the Etihad. The visitors held out for 20 minutes before Joao Cancelo gave City ...

[Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) forced a good save out of former Academy keeper Gavin Bazunu on two minutes, with the Republic of Ireland international clawing a rising shot away. We created chances and we had a feeling those upfront could have been more clinical, but it’s fine. [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan), [Laporte](https://www.mancity.com/players/aymeric-laporte), Alvarez, Gomez, [Palmer](https://www.mancity.com/players/cole-palmer), Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand [Ederson](https://www.mancity.com/players/ederson), Cancelo (Gomez 70), [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake), Akanji, Dias, [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo), [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne) (Alvarez 70), [Bernardo](https://www.mancity.com/players/bernardo-silva) (Lewis 70), [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) (Grealish 58), Haaland, [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) ( [Palmer](https://www.mancity.com/players/cole-palmer)) [Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola)'s plans. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) seems to be forging an excellent understanding with [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland), too - a frightening prospect for any opposition defenders. [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake) and [Manuel Akanji](https://www.mancity.com/players/manuel-akanji) gave impressive performances yet again against Saints. [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo) picked out [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez)'s clever back post run with a lofted pass and the Algerian volleyed the ball into the turf and past Bazunu to make it 3-0. [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne) who powered forward before playing a pass to [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) who drew Bazunu off his line before expertly chipping the ball over him and into the net. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden)'s fine form continued with a delightful chip on 32 minutes and Riyad [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez) wrapped up three points four minutes into the second-half with a clever volley. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) sent [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) clear and there was only one expected outcome as the prolific striker approached the box, but his low shot struck the inside of the post, rolled across the empty net and eventually out of play. [Erling Haaland](https://www.mancity.com/players/erling-haaland) goal.

Erling Haaland increased his goal tally, but Joao Cancelo was arguably the top Manchester City performer in a 4-0 win over Southampton.

With Haaland as a team-mate and De Bruyne getting even better, it wouldn't be a surprise if that record is smashed this term. It might not have been another hat-trick but it was another game when he was crucial in the final third. Of course, Erling Haaland was eventually on the scoresheet but by then the game was long over.

Richards got his Manchester City break at 17, but he needed some advice from a Man United legend to keep him on the right path.

I made sure, from that point on, that my future and my family’s future was secure — and I bought my parents a house." It had cost me a fortune and I was keen to show it off,” explained Richards in a section of his new book publicised by the "I don’t think I ever told him, but that speech changed my life. I started to argue with him, to tell him not to criticise, but he didn’t rise to it. "If you’ve done what you need to do, buy whatever you want," he said. Fan' , Cole played a crucial role in Richards maturing and staying clear of the slippery slope many young stars find themselves on upon turning professional.

Several tongue-in-cheek Change.org petitions have been launched following the Manchester City forward's start to the season.

This issue must be dealt with in order to protect the mental health of millions in our society. This robot should not be allowed to carry on in our country.” The petition has been signed by 646 people so far. He shows up out of the blue, and consistently ruins the weekends of the hardworking people of this great nation. [Ten Hag’s Reds](https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-get-erling-haaland-banned-from-association-football-because-it-s-just-not-fair) has likened Haaland to a “robot” - insisting it is “simply not fair” for him to “carry on in our country”. Now is the time for us people to act. [City](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc) talisman - who arrived from Borussia Dortmund in May for €60million - has bagged 20 goals to cement his status as Europe’s most prolific striker.