Southampton vs Manchester City LIVE: Premier League result after Laporte cancels out Walker-Peters strike
Southampton 1-1 Manchester City: Follow all the latest reaction from St Mary’s as Pep Guardiola’s side were held in the Premier League for the first time since October
Follow live reaction as Premier League leaders Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton, bringing their 12-game winning run to an end and offering a slimmer of hope to the chasing pack.
Kyle Walker-Peters gave Southampton an early lead thanks to a sublime finish with the outside of his boot on seven minutes. The lively Armando Broja saw a goal disallowed as Southampton continued to cause City problems before Raheem Sterling missed a good chance to equalise when he met Phil Foden’s cross from the left but was unable to beat Fraser Forster.
Broja hit the post with a header from close range after the break before City began to pile on the pressure. Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus hit the woodwork before Aymeric Laporte arrived at the back post to meet De Bruyne’s cross and get City back on level terms on 66 minutes. It looked as if there was only going to be one winner from there, but Southampton held on to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side. It leaves City 12 points ahead of second-placed Liverpool, although Jurgen Klopp’s side now have two games in hand.
Follow all the latest reaction below:
Everton vs Aston Villa: Steven Gerrard expects Everton reaction
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is expecting a reaction from the Everton players following the sacking of Rafa Benitez and believes his team will be up against it at Goodison Park today. Gerrard said:
You can quite clearly see, listen to and read the noises that are coming from Everton at the moment, which is the caretaker manager demanding a reaction.
“I don’t think it’s difficult to predict what’s going to be coming our way. I think you’re going to see a real cauldron of an atmosphere at Goodison, I think they’ll be behind the team.
“From our point of view, we need to be ready for that, we need to handle that and make sure we’re the best version of ourselves.”
Everton vs Aston Villa: Ferguson ready to fight for Everton
Everton legend Duncan Ferguson is once again in charge of the club following the sacking of Rafa Benitez. He’s in charge on a temporary basis whilst the Club searches for a new permanent manager but he’s ready to fight to turn around the Toffees poor performances.
Speaking to Evertontv he said that everyone needs to pull together to regain the fight and spirit Everton are known for and he’ll do his best to get a positive result from today’s game. Ferguson said:
We need everybody in our corner and to make sure we are all together; everybody at Finch Farm, everybody at the stadium and everybody in the city. I feel very honoured the Club turned to me again.
“I have spoken to the owner and Chairman and they have been very supportive. And we are all willing for us to get a result on Saturday. The Chairman talked about unity and the Everton way and getting our fight and spirit back.
“He is very passionate, a great Everton man. We should always be doing our best for Everton, shouldn’t we?
“We are Evertonians, we love our club and fight as hard as we can for it. It is a difficult time, results have been really poor, to be honest.
“It was an electric atmosphere [against Chelsea], one of the best I’ve experienced at Goodison, and I am sure they [supporters] will be well, well up for it this weekend. We really need them to push us across the line for the whole game.”
Everton vs Aston Villa: Injuries and absentees
Tom Davies and Alex Iwobi are absent for Everton and Allan may also miss the game through illness.
However, Richarlison could return to the starting XI for the first time since December. After a spell on the sidelines with a calf injury he came off the bench to score against Norwich last time out.
Aston Villa are boosted by the return of John McGinn from suspension, but Ezri Konsa will be assessed before the game after picking up a hip injury against Manchester United.
Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet are still at the Africa Cup of Nations so are unavailable to play.
Everton vs Aston Villa
Everton are taking Aston Villa at Goodison Park this afternoon as the Toffees begin life after Rafa Benitez. The Spanish manager was sacked following a dismal run of results which have left them 16th in the Premier League with only five wins all season, and it is down to caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson to arrest the slide while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
Villa meanwhile are enjoying life under Steven Gerrard, and victory today would lift them into the top half of the table at least temporarily before this afternoon’s other matches. The obvious sub-plot is Gerrard vs Ferguson, two legends of Liverpool and Everton respectively going head to head on Merseyside.
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