Incredible record highlights importance of Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City

Manchester City have not lost in the Premier League this season

The Premier League champions have only dropped four points in the league this season, having drawn against Wolves and Liverpool, both away from home. Their only loss of the season came in the Champions League, when Lyon gave them a shock, beating them 2-1 at the Etihad. That loss seems to have given them a kick up the backside though and Man City are now in high flying form, swatting teams aside at will. With an identical points record to Liverpool, the only thing separating them from the Reds is their exceptional goal difference, which currently stands at +24 and will only continue to rise. They have only conceded three goals this season, the fewest in the league despite the team's focus on attacking. This is in no small part a result of Aymeric Laporte's introduction into City's backline. The 24-year-old joined City back in January from Athletic Bilbao, and has slowly earned a place in City's starting line-up alongside John Stones - and City are reaping the benefits of that partnership. Laporte now holds the record for the longest run without tasting defeat in the Premier League for a new face to the division: Nineteen games unbeaten and counting. Of course, Laporte benefits from bedding into an already high functioning machine at Man City, but his quality on the ball, as well as in the air, has given the team a new breath of confidence at the back after two years of chopping and changing between Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany. Pep Guardiola will be thrilled to finally have a left-footer on the left side of his central defensive duo too, as it allows the team to pass more effectively through the lines.   Manchester City take on Southampton this afternoon. Saints' forward line lacks a cutting edge at the best of times, let alone when they're up against Laporte. It looks like he will continue to extend his record this weekend to 20 Premier League games and counting without a loss.