Manchester City bounced back from Sunday’s derby defeat to go 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory over Southampton.
Riyad Mahrez and Kevin de Bruyne both scored twice in a 5-2 thumping, with Ilkay Gundogan also on the scoresheet for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City made a sluggish start but took the lead from their first attack of note on 15 minutes as De Bruyne put away the rebound after Phil Foden had been denied by Alex McCarthy.
Southampton his back through a James Ward-Prowse penalty after Aymeric Laporte’s lazy foul, before McCarthy was fortunate not to conceded one at the other end when appearing to fell Foden after a heavy touch.
Che Adams’ wayward pass was ruthlessly punished by Mahrez, who curled home in trademark style from the edge of the box before another of the Algerian’s efforts came back off the post to leave Gundogan a tap-in to make it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time.
City flew out of the traps at the start of the second half and soon had the fourth that should have put the game to bed, Mahrez dancing across the box to lash past McCarthy.
However, Adams immediately reduced the deficit with a close range finish before De Bruyne’s second finally killed the game after a a nice lay-off from Foden.
