Manchester City inflict six-goal thumping on Southampton
Raheem Sterling scored twice and Sergio Aguero became the ninth player to reach 150 English Premier League goals as Manchester City powered back to the top of the standings by crushing Southampton 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City needed only five minutes to take the lead with an own-goal from Wesley Hoedt following a neat move involving Aguero, David Silva and Leroy Sane.
Sterling laid on the second for Aguero six minutes later and it wasn't long before it was 3-0, Sterling chipping over a cross and the ball falling invitingly for Silva to lash home.
Southampton, without a victory in six league games, pulled a goal back in the 29th minute when Danny Ings was brought down in the box and picked himself up to stroke the penalty past goalkeeper Ederson.
City restored its three-goal cushion on the stroke of halftime with Aguero taking advantage of a mistake by Cedric Soares and crossing for Sterling to score his fifth league goal of the season.
Sterling added his second of the game midway through the second half before Sane completed the rout in stoppage time.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League clash between table-toppers Manchester City and relegation candidates Southampton, brought to you from the Etihad Stadium.
With kick-off at 3pm and the match not being shown live on UK television, stay here for all the latest updates as the match unfolds. We're expecting team news to arrive in little over half an hour, where we'll ramp up our build-up towards today's opening Premier League fixture.
For Manchester City, the aim today will be to return to the top of the league. Liverpool took their place at the Premier League's summit yesterday following a 1-1 draw at Arsenal, but Pep Guardiola's side will be expected to return to the top with victory over Southampton today.
The visitors, meanwhile, will simply hope to avoid defeat. They remain precariously placed just above the relegation zone, and a heavy loss here today could be damaging.
Here's what Pep Guardiola had to say about Southampton in the buildup to today's game:
Always when I see Southampton, with the players they have, it's a surprise they are in the position they are in. It's the quality of the players they have. I'm impressed with the quality they have in front, it's strong, and especially in the middle, with (Oriol) Romeu, (Pierre-Emile) Hojbjerg. They have hugely talented players.
Not much is expected of Southampton today. They've managed just six goals in ten Premier League games so far this season, and are now tasked with breaching a seemingly impermeable Manchester City defence. Guardiola's side have conceded just three goals. They've scored 27, too, so things are unlikely to be much easier for the visitors at the other end of the pitch.
Predictably, City are on top in the early stages. They're dominating possession and looking to cut through Southampton's backline. No chances yet, though.
Southampton are struggling to contain City. Silva, who has started the game at his elegant best, is picking up the ball in dangerous areas and searching for teammates.
It's a nightmare start for Southampton. Sterling weaves his way into the box, reaches the byline and pulls back for Aguero, who converts from close range.
Now it is 3-0. This is quickly turning into a humiliation. Sterling dinks the ball into the box, Sane challenges, but it falls to David Silva, who hits a lovely half volley into the top corner.
Some respite for Southampton's beleaguered defence as Mark Hughes' side make a rare forage into City's half. Lemina hits a shot from just outside of the box but it's well wide.
Ederson brings down Shane Long in the box and Danny Ings coolly converts the resulting penalty. City have eased off a little in the last ten minutes, and now they've given Southampton a glimmer of hope.
Sterling, who has been excellent on the right in this first half, beats two players and picks out Sane. He finds Silva, who finds Aguero, before a Southampton player finally intervenes. The ball drops to Kyle Walker, but his shot is wayward.
Sterling appeals for a penalty, but referee Lee Mason isn't interested. Lemina's challenge is a good one, although Southampton will know they need to be careful when Sterling bursts into the box.
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