Erling Haaland reaches 30 goals as City ease past Saints

Erling Haaland kept Manchester City's title hopes alive with goals either side of half-time in his side’s 4-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s.

The Norway striker broke the deadlock with a header on 45 minutes before Jack Grealish made it two after the restart.

Haaland’s Premier League-leading 30th goal was a beautiful bicycle-kick finish, with the visitors only able to claw one back through Sekou Mara.

That was quickly cancelled out when Kevin De Bruyne drew a penalty, allowing Haaland’s substitute Julian Alvarez to share the glory as he fired in the spot-kick.

One of Haaland’s 28 goals going into Saturday’s contest came in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in October against a Saints side then managed by Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Two managers later, and with the sides separated by 41 points, Ruben Selles’ men looked to get something started early on a sunny south coast evening when Carlos Alcaraz took possession at the right of the area but found himself without a viable option at the far post as he sent the ball across the face of goal.

City tested Gavin Bazunu inside the first five minutes, Ilkay Gundogan finding Grealish who forced a good save out of the Saints shot-stopper with a drive from 15 yards out.

The visitors were on the brink of danger when an alert Kamaldeen Sulemana intercepted De Bruyne’s short corner inside his own half and broke free with Nathan Ake in hot pursuit.

The 21-year-old charged into City’s half but mis-controlled at the end of his run allowing keeper Ederson to smother the ball.

The moment seemed to lift Saints’ spirits, however, and they were soon back on the attack as Mohamed Elyounoussi directed the ball into the area, hoping to find Alcaraz who bent forward but could not get his head on the