Raheem Sterling saves Manchester City with sensational 96th-minute winner

Raheem Sterling scored a brilliant winner in the final seconds of added time to earn Manchester City a 2-1 victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City were looking to extend their lead at the top after Manchester United's 4-2 win over Watford on Tuesday night.

Manchester City took the lead with a deflected Kevin De Bruyne free kick just 77 seconds into the second half, but Oriol Romeu scored against his former manager to put his side on course for a draw with 15 minutes remaining.

But the in-form Sterling produced a moment of magic with the final play of the game to prompt delirious celebrations.

City remain top with an eight point lead over Manchester United, while Southampton remain in 11th spot.

Manchester City have the mentality of champions. With a draw looming, they might have accepted a point to stay six above Manchester United. Instead, they kept their nerve, forced Southampton back, and with their most intricate move of the match they delivered a winner at the death.

Raheem Sterling (Manchester City): After that goal, there is no other contender. He has 13 goals this season and is now a regular, late match winner for City. At just 22 and with the best manager in the world to learn from, he could be the best English player for many years.

Manchester City: Ederson 6, Delph 6, Kompany 5, Otamendi 7, Walker 6, Fernandinho 6, Gundogan 6, De Bruyne 7, Sterling 7, Jesus 6, Aguero 6. Subs: Bernardo 6, Silva 6.

Southampton: Forster 6, Cédric 6, Yoshida 6, van Dijk 6, Hoedt 6, Bertrand 6, Højbjerg 6, Romeu 7, Lemina 7, Redmond 6, Long 6. Subs: McQueen 6, Boufal 7, Austin 6.

14’ - HOEDT HEADER - Kompany slides a leg out to block a cross from the right wing. Corner for Southampton. Hoedt gets to a flick on and flicks an instinctive header against the crossbar.

34’ - YOSHIDA CHANCE - A corner from Redmond to the back post is headed down by Van Dijk, Yoshida sticks out a leg and the ball flies over the bar.

47’ - GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Southampton. Van Dijk scores an own goal - De Bruyne curls in a free kick to the near post Otamendi dives towards it and Van Dijk sticks out a leg to send it past Forster.

70’- VAN DIJK HEADER - Redmond curls in a corner and Van Dijk leaps to meet the ball and head over the bar.

75’- Manchester City 1-1 Southampton. Romeu scores - Redmond loops a cross to the back post. Boufal brings it down brilliantly, pulls it back and Romeu stabs home.

90+6’ - GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Southampton. Sterling scores - With seconds remaining, Sterling comes in from the left. He swaps passes with De Bruyne on the edge of the box, and he arcs a brilliant shot into the top corner.

Raheem Sterling has 13 goals this season, which is three more than he scored in all of last season.