"One of the big qualities of the modern goalkeeper"
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 19, 2020
Roberto Martinez pinpoints a key moment in the build-up to Man City's goal...#PLonPrime #SOUMCI pic.twitter.com/XQK5eNgff7
Clever City play grabs the only goal
As Manchester City grabbed the lead through Raheem Sterling in the 16th minute, it looked as though it had come from a rare lapse from Saints at the back.
However, a closer look at how City moved Saints around shows that they played their part.
Saints press City and force them back towards their own goal and Ederson – supreme with the ball at his feet – pings a pass straight over the high defensive line from the hosts.
As you watch the video of the build-up above, look at how Kevin De Bruyne pulls away from Jannik Vestergaard and shifts the Dane out of his normal position. Of course, Ederson’s pass goes into that space and Bernardo is onto it straight away.
The eventual low cross from De Bruyne that sets up Sterling’s winner would have been cut off by Vestergaard in his normal position but his absence sees City score.
This battle at the top really is brutal.