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Manchester City fought their way back to the top of the Premier League as Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland needed just five minutes to open the scoring, slipping in front of Jan Bednarek to guide Matheus Nunes’ cross into the net. City continued to press, with Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic testing the Southampton defense with shots from distance.
A penalty appeal was denied after VAR upheld the referee’s decision, ruling that Taylor Harwood-Bellis had not deliberately handled the ball in the box.
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Despite City’s dominance, Southampton nearly leveled in first-half stoppage time, as Cameron Archer’s shot on the counter rattled the crossbar.
After halftime, Haaland had three quick chances in two minutes. Harwood-Bellis cleared one header off the line, Aaron Ramsdale saved another, and Haaland narrowly missed Savinho’s cross at the far post.
Southampton’s substitute Adam Armstrong had two close efforts before Ramsdale once again denied Haaland in stoppage time.
Ultimately, City held on, with Haaland’s missed chances not costing Guardiola’s side the win. Meanwhile, at Goodison Park, Beto’s stoppage-time equalizer salvaged a point for Everton in a 1-1 draw against Fulham.
The substitute’s late strike extended Everton’s unbeaten run to five Premier League matches, leaving Fulham frustrated despite controlling much of the game.
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