Pep Guardiola braced for ‘world best’ attack on Man City record

Pep Guardiola is braced for Manchester City to come up against the world specialist in set-pieces when they take on Southampton.

The Blues have worked hard to improve their performances this season from dead balls, with new first-team coach Carlos Vicens tasked with focusing on those situations after Nicolas Jover departed for Arsenal. And the results have been impressive, with only Liverpool (11) scoring more than the leaders (9) from set-pieces and no side has conceded fewer than them (1) so far in the league.

However, Guardiola knows not only that James Ward-Prowse is excellent from free-kicks and corners – he has enthused and worried about the player before – but that he is also in form. The 27-year-old has four goals from his last five games as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have moved up the table in recent weeks.

As well as acknowledging the midfielder’s overall quality, Guardiola does not think there is a better player in the game at the minute for dead ball situations as the Blues look to make it 13 straight Premier League wins at St Mary’s and go into their winter break on a high.

“He’s the best taker right now worldwide,” he said.

“There isn’t a better taker than Ward-Prowse. He’s so good at it that maybe you miss his quality as a player as well. He is a guy who adapts in midfield positions, a team player who has great quality with or without the ball.

“At freekicks, corners he is exceptional.”