Sterling suffers more VAR drama but Man City also saved by review in Saints draw

Coming off a 6-3 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League, goals were expected as Southampton travelled to Manchester, but manager Ralph Hasenhuttl clearly had other plans.

James Ward-Prowse nearly had Southampton ahead early on when his brilliantly floated cross was missed by everyone, but City goalkeeper Ederson was equal to it, cleverly tipping it wide.

£100million summer signing Jack Grealish continually found space down the left hand side of the Saints defence, but did little with the ball, clearly not learning from his intense on-pitch coaching session from Pep Guardiola midweek.

He did set up a chance for Raheem Sterling to fire wide, while Southampton were just as listless on City's left with Nathan Redmond and Mohamed Elyounoussi wasting breakaway opportunities.

In the second-half, Kyle Walker gave himself a huge clear up job with an hour gone, when a poor pass was intercepted and fed into Adam Armstrong who carried it into the area before colliding with Walker.

Referee John Moss instantly gave a penalty and a red card with some certainty, but was called to his VAR monitor where he soon realised Armstrong was already on his way down, although there was contact.

And there was even more late drama with VAR involved, when City thought they had won it in stoppage time as Raheem Sterling reeled off in celebration.

However, an incredibly tight offside call showed Sterling's toes just ahead of Phil Foden after the midfielder had a header denied by Alex McCarthy.

In scenes reminiscent of City's dramatic Champions League quarter-final loss to Tottenham, Sterling's celebrations were once again cut short, and he seems to be a victim of late VAR calls more than most.

A rare sight then occurred in stoppage time, with the Saints keeping the ball in the corner to waste time, not for three points, but just one, which they duly claimed.

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