Manchester City dropped two vital points at Southampton on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side saw their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League take a big hit.
MORE — Watch full match replay
City had plenty of the ball but came up against a stubborn Southampton side, as they missed chances, had an effort cleared off the line, Aaron Ramsdale made a string of saves and Omar Marmoush smashed the crossbar.
MORE — Pep Guardiola reaction
It wasn’t to be for City, as they move on to 65 points with two games of the season to go. Southampton move on to 12 points for the season as they moved ahead of Derby County’s record-low of 11 points. There were huge roars at the final whistle at St Mary’s as the home side will no longer go down as the equal-worst team in Premier League history.
Man City, and Pep, make life hard for themselves
They should have won this game easily but it was one of those days for Man City. The sun was beating down. They were playing against an already-relegated team. They half expected to turn up and win easy. Southampton’s shape and deep defending surprised Pep Guardiola but there was a general lack of fizz and zip about City’s play. They hit the bar, had a shot cleared off the line and missed another good chance when Savinho and O’Reilly got in the way of each other. But that was about it. For all of their domination City just never found their rhythm and struggled to get the fit-again Erling Haaland involved. That was partly because Southampton pulled out every trick in the book to waste time and it was also due to a lack of cutting edge, especially in the first half. Pep Guardiola started with four attacking midfielders and no wingers and it clogged things up. Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden and James McAtee all wanted to cut inside and that made it easier for Saints to defend. Jeremy Doku made a huge difference when he came on at half time and this was a case of Guardiola making unnecessary changes and going for something a bit left-field and it not working how he wanted. That gave Saints a foothold in the game and City shouldn’t have allowed that to happen. They now face Bournemouth at home and Fulham away in their final two games and those will be a lot tougher than this trip to St Mary’s. City will still probably finish in the top five but this unexpected draw has now made things much more difficult for themselves. The pressure is still on and the likes of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea will all be thanking Saints, as they’ve received an unexpected boost to their Champions League dreams.
Southampton vs Manchester City player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Southampton head to Everton on Sunday, May 18 for the final game at Goodison Park. Manchester City have the FA Cup final at Wembley against Crystal Palace on Saturday, May 17. City are next in PL action at home against Bournemouth on Tuesday May 20.
Southampton vs Manchester City score: 0-0
Southampton vs Manchester City live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Marmoush hits the crossbar
Omar Marmoush smashes the crossbar just as stoppage time arrives. Seven minutes for City to find this goal.
Dias denied by Ramsdale, then Marmoush goes close
Bernardo Silva clips in a cross and it’s headed towards goal by Ruben Dias but Aaron Ramsdale pushes it over. Man City pushing hard for this goal late on now. Omar Marmoush is on and almost scores but his shot is blocked and is out for a corner.
Substitutes almost score right away
A cross from Haaland is going to be tapped in, surely, by two City players. But Welington somehow gets in the way with subs Savio and O’Reilly ready to tap home but it went past both of them. That looked certain to be a goal for City. Just over 10 minutes to go.
Saints with a couple of chances
It has taken nearly 70 minutes but Saints have a couple of half chances. Bree whips in a cross and Fernandes has a shot blocked. Welington’s cross is then deflected just over but a corner comes to nothing. The game is really opening up now. About 20 minutes to go.
Stephens hacks it off the line!
Bernardo Silva’s shot is going in but Jack Stephens is on the line to clear it as the Saints skipper was in the right place at the right time. Great clearance.
Foden whips a free kick to the back post but Haaland can’t get on the end of it
That’s a brilliant free kick from Phil Foden to the back post as he whips it in with real pace, but Erling Haaland can’t quite get on the end of it as he slides in.
VAR check for possible red card on Kevin de Bruyne
Kevin de Bruyne catches Joe Aribo late on and that is nasty. He catches him high on the ankle but it is cleared.
Doku on at half time for Man City
Jeremy Doku is on at half time for James McAtee and Man City already look pretty threatening as he buzzes down the left. Joe Aribo has come on for Ugochukwu in midfield, with the latter walking a tightrope after being booked in the first half.
Half time: Southampton 0-0 Manchester City
Total domination from City in terms of possession but they’ve struggled to create big chances. Kevin de Bruyne has whipped a free kick close, but that’s about it. Southampton are digging in and will be delighted to get to half time level. Lesley Ugochukwu has been booked and looked to stop a quick free kick just before half time, so he will have to be careful as City are surrounding the referee and aren’t happy at all.
De Bruyne whips a free kick just over
Kevin de Bruyne wins a free kick about 25 yards out in the center of the goal. This is dangerous. He takes a long time to line it up, then De Bruyne whips it up and over the wall but it just flies over and flicks the top of the net.
Gvardiol almost converts again
A cross to the back post finds Gvardiol and he somehow stretches to put an effort across goal which isn’t going in, but City’s attackers can’t get on the end of it. City are cranking through the gears.
Gvardiol almost taps home
A brilliant City free kick is whipped in by De Bruyne and Gvardiol looks set to tap home at the back post, but Flynn Downes does superbly to clear for a corner. That comes to nothing but it’s all City so far. As you would expect.
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Bree, Downes, Ugochukwu, Welington; Dibling, Fernandes; Sulemana
Manchester City lineup
Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Silva; Foden, De Bruyne, McAtee; Haaland
Southampton team news, focus
Saints enter their final Premier League matches without any injuries of note.
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: John Stones (thigh), Rodri (torn ACL - MORE), Nathan Ake (ankle)
Southampton vs Manchester City prediction
It would be stunning if a leaky, 20th-place team somehow managed a point, let alone a win against a powerhouse who needs all three points to keep Champions League status for the 2025-26 season. Southampton 0-3 Man City.
Southampton vs Manchester City preview
The Citizens have climbed into third place on the Premier League table, three points back of second-place Arsenal and two ahead of sixth-place Nottingham Forest. The top-five teams will qualify for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s men have won four-straight Premier League matches and are unbeaten in seven league outings dating back to mid-March.
Southampton will seal their fate as the 20th-place team this season with a loss on Saturday, as Saints are still seeking the point that would boost them clear of “worst season ever” status.
Interim manager Simon Rusk looks at his club’s season as sees 2W-5D-28L and a minus-57 goal differential. Saints have taken just two points since their last win — a February 1 triumph at Ipswich Town.
How to watch Southampton vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. Mary’s — Southampton
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
