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Southampton vs Manchester City: A tactical and statistical analysis

ByMarc Walker|
Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) consoles Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (L) during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on December 19, 2020. (Photo by Naomi Baker / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) consoles Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (L) during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on December 19, 2020. (Photo by Naomi Baker / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Southampton’s Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Southampton’s Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Southampton competed very well against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon but lost by narrow 1-0 margin.

A tough schedule of three games in six days has seen Saints keep up their usual style admirably and they will have learnt huge lessons about how perfect they need to be to maintain their current league position.

The fixtures keep coming thick and fast and January will surely give us all a clue as to where Saints will end up come May.

Here is a tactical and statistical analysis of how yesterday’s game played out at St Mary’s: