Who would have thought that it was going to be Southampton to halt Manchester City’s impressive run of Premier League wins! An early Kyle Walker-Peters’ goal made Pep Guardiola’s team chase the red and whites for a long time and in the end settle for a point.For all the attacking talent City have on their disposal, it was defender Aymeric Laporte whose goal was needed to avoid defeat on the south coast of England. The champions had to settle for a result that left them 12 points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who have two games in hand and face Crystal Palace on Sunday.Points shared at St. Mary’s as Southampton hold title leaders City ✋🚫 pic.twitter.com/5ndozws1VQ— 433 (@433) January 22, 2022 City were rocked in the seventh minute when Walker-Peters linked up with Nathan Redmond on the right flank. Walker-Peters cut inside and, with City backing off, the right-back had space to shoot into the far corner with the outside of his foot. It was just the 14th goal City had conceded in the league this term and they were nearly breached again nine minutes later.Broja should have scored from a corner, but headed James Ward-Prowse’s delivery against the woodwork from just four yards. It was a crucial miss and City finally equalised in the 65th minute as Laporte exploited Southampton’s weakness in the air.Kevin De Bruyne swung a free-kick to the far post and Laporte was left completely unmarked to score the 11th headed goal against Southampton in the league this season.⭐️ Man of the Match, @SouthamptonFC’s Mohammed Salisu71 touches27/36 passes completed9/10 duels won4 interceptions*14 clearances – 2nd most in a PL game this season3 blocks*53 this season, 10 more than any other player pic.twitter.com/OB3Ecmy4gl— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 22, 2022 For the first time since they were beaten 2-0 by Palace on October 30, City finished a league game without all three points. They remain firmly in pole position for the fourth title in five seasons, but their draw on the south coast will give a glimmer of hope to Liverpool and third-placed Chelsea.De Bruyne was unlucky not to settle the match on a couple of occasions but was unlucky to see his lovely curling shot crack off the post with the diving goalkeeper Fraser Forster nowhere near it.City were denied a penalty after VAR ruled Oriol Romeu’s foul on De Bruyne had taken place just outside the area. In the tense final minutes, Forster pushed away Foden’s goalbound deflected cross and De Bruyne’s close-range effort was repelled by the inspired Saints keeper.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 23FridayWatford – Norwich 0-3 (0-0)/Sargent 51, 74, Kucka 90+2 og/SaturdayEverton – Aston Villa 0-1 (0-1)/Buendia 45+3/Manchester United – West Ham United 1-0 (0-0)/Rashford 90+3/Leeds United – Newcastle United 0-1 (0-0)/Shelvey 75/Brentford – Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 (0-0)/Toney 71 – Moutinho 48, Semedo 78/Southampton – Manchester City 1-1 (1-0)/Walker-Peters 7 – Laporte 65/Sunday17:00: (2.65) Leicester (3.25) Brighton (2.90)17:00: (1.37) Arsenal (5.10) Burnley (10.0)17:00: (6.25) Crystal Palace (3.90) Liverpool (1.63)19:30: (1.75) Chelsea (3.70) Tottenham (5.40)***odds are subject to change
