The 2-1 win over Southampton, which came courtesy of Raheem Sterling’s brilliant stoppage-time winner, made it 19 successive victories in all competitions, extending a Club record that has helped them establish an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League at the end of November.
The Blues have scored a remarkable 59 goals in all competitions and haven’t lost a game of football since April when Arsenal won a tight FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. A remarkable 40 points from 14 Premier League games is the best start to a Premier League season ever.
Records are tumbling on a weekly basis; a new high consistently being found. City are playing football that seems almost otherworldly at times.
City 2-1 Saints: Match and player stats
Of course, the Blues are yet to win anything, and only when silverware is delivered will true celebrations begin. But as starts to a season go, this one has been emphatic.
In truth, City were far from their best in the win over a disciplined Saints side. The first half was disjointed, with Southampton happy to pack the midfield and stymie City’s attacking play. Fernandinho had a close-range effort parried and Ilkay Gundogan, making his first league start of the season, hit the sidenetting after Sergio Aguero’s shot was saved by the legs of Fraser Forster. City were in control without being at their free-flowing best.
Southampton had chances of their own in the opening period. Wesley Hoedt headed against the bar with Edesron beaten and Maya Yoshida stabbed over from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy, but Mauricio Pellegrino’s side seemed more content to frustrate City and try to nick a draw rather than open up and play expansively.
City upped the tempo in the second half and the deadlock was broken two minutes after the restart when Kevin De Bruyne’s freekick found its way in at the near post via a deflection from Virgil van Dijk.
Gabriel Jesus almost made it two seconds later, skipping past Yoshida and firing the ball just wide of the upright, and Forster was soon called into action again, making a superb double save, firstly from Jesus, again with his feet, before producing a fine save to deny De Bruyne from distance.
But Southampton drew level with 15 minutes remaining, Oriol Romeu smashing home after Sofiane Boufal’s brilliant pullback to the edge of the area. It was a fine finish, leaving Ederson with no chance, and City’s winning run looked in serious danger.
But this team fights like few others and with the game deep into stoppage time, Sterling curled a superb winner into the top corner - his second late goal in the space of three days and his 13th in 19 appearances so far this season. It was an unbelievable finish, and one Guardiola enjoyed as he ran onto the pitch to celebrate with his players.
This is a special side, producing the best football in the Club’s history.
Man of the Match - Kevin De Bruyne
Scored the opener and was City’s main creative force throughout the game.
Next up
City host West Ham United on Sunday in the Premier League, before a midweek trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk in their final Champions League group match.
