Man City stick six past sorry Southampton
Premier League
Manchester City 6-1 Southampton
Manchester City cruised back to the top of the Premier League after thrashing Southampton 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The victory was built on three goals in the opening 18 minutes as Wesley Hoedt’s own goal in the 6th minute was followed by Sergio Aguero’s 150th Premier League goal after 12 minutes and David Silva’s half-volley six minutes later.
Danny Ings’ 30th-minute penalty gave Southampton temporary respite, but Raheem Sterling scored in first-half injury-time to restore City’s three-goal advantage.
The England international netted his second of the game in the 67th minute before Leroy Sane struck in injury-time to ensure Pep Guardiola’s team move two points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table ahead of next Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Southampton defender Hoedt inadvertently started a flurry of first-half goals when he steered Sane’s low cross into his own net from two yards with Sterling lurking in an offside position.
Six minutes later, Aguero secured his landmark 150th league goal for City when he tapped in Sterling’s low delivery from close range after good work from Bernardo Silva.
City skipper David Silva scored the third in the 18th minute when Sterling’s floated cross was half-cleared by the head of Jack Stephens and the Spaniard lashed in a half-volley.
Southampton had not scored in their previous five Premier League games, but ended that run when John Stones was caught out by Ings and Ederson brought him down just inside the area. The striker coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with his penalty.
But Sterling scored City’s fourth with a low shot in the second minute of first-half added time when Cedric Soares tried to see the ball out of play and Aguero won the ball back to cross for his team-mate to score.
Southampton forwards Ings and Shane Long had chances after the break, but Sane hit the post with a fierce effort before Sterling scored the fifth on 67 minutes, receiving the ball from Aguero and shooting low across Alex McCarthy.
Sane completed the rout in injury-time when Sterling found him on the edge of the area and he cut onto his left foot before shooting past McCarthy to move the champions top of the pile in style.
Manchester City host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday evening before a Sunday showdown against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium next weekend. Southampton are at home to Watford next Saturday afternoon in the Premier League
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