Manchester City ease past Southampton to keep title hopes alive

Relive the action action from St Mary’s

Manchester City: A look back at 2018

Manchester City warmed up for Thursday's pivotal Premier League battle with Liverpool by coasting past 10-man Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's.

David Silva and Sergio Aguero struck for City, with James Ward-Prowse's own goal also helping Pep Guardiola's men get back to winning ways.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fired a fine first-half goal for Saints, only to be sent off late on for a two-footed tackle.

City hit back from defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester with ease, reclaiming second place and cutting Liverpool's Premier League lead to seven points.

Relive the action below.

What time does it start?

Southampton vs Manchester City kicks off at 2:15pm (GMT)

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League.

Independent Sport will also keep you up to date with all the goals via our live blog.

Highlights will be shown on Match of the Day Two at 10:30pm on BBC One.

Player to watch…

Sergio Aguero: The Argentinian striker has managed eight goals and five assists in just 15 Premier League appearances this season and when he’s on the pitch, he’s always a threat. Aguero has failed to score in his last four league matches and is in direct competition with Gabriel Jesus for the starting spot.

Can Sergio Aguero get City back to winning ways? (Getty Images)

Form guide…

Southampton: LWWLLD

Man City: LLWLWW

Odds…

Southampton: 19/2

Manchester City: 3/10

Draw: 23/5

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

Prediction…

Southampton 0-3 Man City: This game is absolutely crucial for Pep’s side. They can’t afford anything other than wins now, especially with Liverpool consistently winning matches. I feel Southampton will unluckily fall victims of a relentless bounce back City performance.

[30 December 2018 16:01 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

86 minutes

Fernandinho, perhaps for his own protection, is replaced by Kyle Walker.

[30 December 2018 16:04 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Burnley 2-0 West Ham

90 minutes

Tom Heaton, starting ahead of Joe Hart today, has made a great save to preserve Burnley's clean sheet. West Ham have thrown players forward late on but to no avail.

[30 December 2018 16:06 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

90+1 minutes

Long should score a consolation. Ward-Prowse puts in an excellent delivery and the forward gets his head on it. But it flies wide. At that, St Mary's begins to empty.

[30 December 2018 16:08 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Full time: It's finished at Turf Moor, where Burnley secure a vital three points. They move level on points with Southampton. That win, after some heavy defeats in recent weeks, will be a welcome confidence boost.

[30 December 2018 16:09 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Full time: It's over at St Mary's too. City end their run of defeats with a comfortable win and go into their game with Liverpool next week seven points behind the league leaders.

[30 December 2018 16:13 · Callum Rice-Coates]

City did the hard work in the first half. They just about weathered the Southampton storm following Højbjerg's equaliser and scored twice late in the half. After that, the second half was effectively a non-event. A big win for City, who couldn't afford another slip up.

For Southampton, it's two defeats in a row. Hasenhuttl has improved things, but there is still a lot of work to be done.