Southampton 1-0 Manchester City: Three Key Saints Players in the win

3 of 4

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Alex McCarthy of Southampton saves from David Silva of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium on July 05, 2020 in Southampton, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Frank Augstein/Pool via Getty Images) /

Alex McCarthy

With only four wins at home before Manchester city it hasn’t been home sweet home for McCarthy and his teammates. The goalkeeper would surely have thought long and hard about the calamitous mistake that cost him his clean sheet against Arsenal.

However, with only one goal conceded within the last two away games the goalkeeper and his backline has actually had a reasonable time of it of late. This emerging form reaped his best performance this season if not in a Saints shirt.

At one point during the broadcast the BBC’s Guy Mowbray aptly described City’s assault on the Southampton goal as a “shooting gallery”, so intense was the assault. Luckily McCarthy was practicing his best Superman impression as he kept the opposition at bay.

Highlights of McCarthy’s day includes him denying both Raheem Sterling and David Silva in the space of 30 seconds. The second half saw McCarthy leap down to palm away Gabriel Jesus’ point-blank header.

Although Alex rightfully takes his starring role on the key players list, he certainly owes his defenders a pint or two by way of thanks.

According to statistics from the BBC, Manchester city had a whopping 26 shots with only six on target. As Match Of the Day points out Leicester only required 25 shots to put nine in against the same club.

Yes, the personnel have changed slightly since then but the real difference between the two performances is the work rate, desire, and tactical awareness. The back line is far from perfect and will make mistakes again, but Sunday’s performance goes to show how far focus and application will get you.

Stuart Armstrong deserve special credit for his night’s work, as the midfielder averted last-minute disaster.

The final whistle looming, McCarthy comes to meet a cross but can only knock the ball meekly to the feet of Bernardo. The goalie now stuck in no man’s land, the Portuguese star looks certain to be able to find a colleague who would surely pierce the Saints net. However, as the international fires his pass off, Stuart Armstrong arrives to deflect the ball away to relative safety.