Raheem Sterling netted a brace as champions Manchester City hammered six past struggling Southampton at the Etihad on Sunday.
An own-goal from Wesley Hoedt opened the scoring for City and Sergio Aguero fired home his 150th Premier League goal to double the lead.
David Silva made it three with a thumping finish before Southampton got on the board thanks to a calm penalty from Danny Ings.
David Silva of Manchester City and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrate after teammate Raheem Sterling scores their team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on November 4, 2018 i
Image credit: Getty Images
Sterling then took over as two fine finishes gave him his fifth and six Premier League goals of the season.
And the England international teed up Leroy Sane for the sixth in added time, it is the fourth time City have scored six goals under Pep Guardiola.
City go two points clear at the top of the table with the win whilst Southampton, without a win in seven, remain in 16th.
TALKING POINT
Free-scoring City can't be stopped. Since their goalless draw with Liverpool, Manchester City have gone on to win three straight Premier League games - scoring an eye-watering 12 goals in the process - but the frightening thing is that they have yet to hit top-gear.
Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
City hit Burnley for five without being close to their best; they downed Spurs at Wembley in third-gear and it didn't even feel like they had to work very hard to humiliate Southampton.
Undoubtedly, Pep Guardiola's side will be pushed harder than they were last season in the title race, but if top spot is decided by goal-difference, well, it's still difficult to look past City as they already hold an amazing 13-goal advantage over Liverpool. At this rate, they have scored a league goal every six minutes.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) In a week in which it has been reported that Sterling has signed a mega new deal at Manchester City - making him the highest-paid English player - the forward went some way to prove his value to his side, as he played a part in all six team goals. It is easy to see why City are desperate to keep him at the club - the 23-year-old must be an absolute dream to play with; his pace, vision and ability to be in the right place at the right time are all valuable assets to a title-winning team.
anchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their fifth goal
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester City: Ederson 5, Walker 6, Stones 6, Laporte 7, Mendy 7, Fernandinho 7, B Silva 8, D Silva 8, Sane 8, Sterling 9, Aguero 8. Subs: Kompany 5, Delph 5, Foden 6.
Southampton: McCarthy 4, Soares 5, Stephens 5, Hoedt 4, Bertrand 5, Redmond 4, Ward-Prowse 5, Hojbjerg 4, Lemina 5, Long 4, Ings 6. Subs: Elyounoussi 4, Armstrong 4, Obafemi 5.
KEY MOMENTS
6' - GOAL! Man City 1-0 Southampton: And there is the opener! Aguero plays it to David Silva, he releases it through to Sane who drills it across the face of goal. Sterling is positioned for a tap-in but Hoedt gets there first and can only stick it into his own net.
12' - GOAL! Man City 2-0 Southampton: Goal 150 for Aguero, but it's created and crafted by the wonderful Sterling. The Englishman is released by Bernardo Silva, he races to the byline with electric pace and pulls it back for Aguero who is left with a tap-in. Game over already?
Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
18' - GOAL! Man City 3-0 Southampton: Oh dear, this is becoming embarrassing for the Saints. Sterling is involved again, he receives a pass from Bernardo Silva and fizzes a cross into the penalty area. Stephens can only head as far as David Silva who rifles a left-footed volley into the top corner.
31' - GOAL! Man City 3-1 Southampton: Game on?! Surely not, but Ings has given the travelling Southampton fans something to cheer about, at least. He steps up and strokes the penalty to the left, sending Ederson the wrong way.
45'+2 - GOAL! Man City 4-1 Southampton: City re-establish their three-goal lead before the break. Cedric tries to shepherd an overcooked pass out of play but then Aguero nips in the other side and wins it back, pulling it back for Sterling. His first shot is blocked but he gets a second bite of the cherry and makes no mistake, slotting it past a helpless McCarthy.
67' - GOAL! Man City 5-1 Southampton: The home side pile more misery on the Saints with another excellent team goal. Fernandinho passes into the feet of Aguero, he has Sterling bombing forward on his right and he plays a perfectly-weight pass to the Englishman who slots home from a tight angle. And now you have to fear for the tiring Southampton.
Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling (L) celebrates with Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (R) after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at
Image credit: Getty Images
90'+1 - GOAL! Man City 6-1 Southampton: Sane scores his third of the season to wrap the game up nicely for City. Foden races forward, eating up a lot of ground, he feeds it to Sterling who finds Sane. And the German international is allowed to check back onto his left-foot and strike a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
KEY STATS
- Manchester City have scored five or more goals in a single Premier League game for the 12th time under Pep Guardiola - no other team has done so more than six times since the start of the 2016-17 season.
- Sergio Aguero scored his 150th Premier League goal in his 217th appearance - only Alan Shearer (212 games) has scored 150 in fewer games in Premier League history.
- Aguero is just the third player to score 150 Premier League goals for a single club, after Thierry Henry for Arsenal (175) and Wayne Rooney for Manchester United (183).
- Southampton's Wesley Hoedt has now scored two own goals in the Premier League this season, more than any other player in the competition.
- Southampton are winless in their last nine visits to the Etihad in all competitions (D1 L8), since winning their first ever match at the ground (3-1 in April 2004).
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