Manchester City 6-1 Southampton: Three key players

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 04: Mario Lemina of Southampton battles for possession with Bernardo Silva of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

Mario Lemina

For as little possession as Southampton had (32%), Mario Lemina had a solid game.

He did a lot of covering within a broken back four, and was strong in challenges without committing a host of fouls. The team in general looked nervous to dive into tackles, but Lemina played without fear and provided good defence in a crowded centre of the park. The most memorable recovery with Raheem Sterling inside the Southampton penalty area. The Gabon International remained strong and won the ball, taking Sterling down cleanly in a very soft shout for a spot kick.

Lemina has been up and down all season, and this scoreline is not going to improve his confidence. However, he should take some positives away as he was one of the few players that could consistently keep up with one of the most talented teams in the world.