Haaland sends Man City to the top of the Premier League

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

EVEN IF Erling Haaland is expected to miss out on the Ballon d’Or next week, his campaign to win it in 2025 is well under way.

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior is the favourite to take football’s most prestigious individual prize on Monday in Paris, but Haaland has been in near-unstoppable form this season.

The Norwegian goal machine scored for the 14th time in 13 games in all competitions for Manchester City to send the defending English Premier League champions to the top of the standings after beating Southampton 1-0 yesterday.

He needed just five minutes to produce the decisive goal at Etihad Stadium, following his double against Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday, which included a spectacular heel volley.

His close-range effort against Southampton was more routine, but it was enough to send City two points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who play Arsenal today.

On a day of late drama, Aston Villa were third but dropped points after Evanilson scored in the sixth minute of added time to earn Bournemouth a 1-1 draw. Bryan Mbeumo also scored in added time to seal a 4-3 comeback win for Brentford against Ipswich, while winless Wolverhampton scored twice late on to draw at Brighton 2-2.

Everton followed suit when Beto equalised in stoppage time to draw with Fulham 1-1.

City manager Pep Guardiola described Haaland as a “guarantee for us” after the forward sealed three points against a Southampton team that have yet to win in the league since promotion last season.

The league top scorer for the past two seasons leads the way again with 11 goals, and he might have added to that total if he had been more clinical with further chances against Southampton. Mbeumo is second with eight and Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has seven.

Leading the way in the Champions League, Villa were moments away from moving within a point of Liverpool after Ross Barkley’s goal in the 76th looked like being enough to beat Bournemouth.

But Evanilson dashed those hopes.

Also, US international Tyler Adams came off the Bournemouth bench to make his first appearance since the Copa America after back surgery.

Villa still moved up to third and a point ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal.

“At the last moment we didn’t control the match,” Villa manager Unai Emery said. “It’s painful but we have to accept it.”

Yesterday’s Results

Man City 1-0 Southampton

Brentford 4-3 Ipswich

Brighton 2-2 Wolves

Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

Everton 1-1 Fulham