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 15:27 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

52 minutes

Silva swings in a free kick and Laporte meets it. His header is wayward, though, and loops harmlessly over the bar.

[30 December 2018 15:28 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

53 minutes

Crucial intervention from Targett, who slides in and gets a foot on a Sterling pass that was on its way into the path of Aguero. Southampton are working hard just to keep City out at the moment.

[30 December 2018 15:30 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

55 minutes

McCarthy makes another impressive save. Sterling and Silva play a one-two, and the former finds himself through on goal. The goalkeeper makes himself big to keep out Sterling's left-footed shot.

[30 December 2018 15:32 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Burnley 2-0 West Ham

58 minutes

Burnley should be out of sight at Turf Moor. Chris Wood, since opening the scoring, has missed a couple of golden opportunities. West Ham are showing no signs of coming back into it, though.

[30 December 2018 15:33 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

58 minutes

Austin is in the book for a poor challenge from behind on Fernandinho. Frustration got the better of him there.

[30 December 2018 15:33 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

59 minutes

A first change for Southampton as Romeu makes way for youngster Yan Valery.

[30 December 2018 15:34 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

59 minutes

Mahrez plays a quick ball into the feet of Aguero, who swivels and hits a shot with his left foot. It cannons off the bar and away from danger. There are more goals in this for City.

[30 December 2018 15:36 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

61 minutes

Southampton are really struggling to get out now. Mahrez, on the edge of the box, tries to curl one towards the far corner, but it's blocked by one of the many red and white shirts in the box.

[30 December 2018 15:38 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

63 minutes

City break quickly from a Southampton free kick and Sterling picks out Aguero. His effort, on the slide, is blocked by Ward-Prowse.

[30 December 2018 15:40 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 1-3 Manchester City

65 minutes

Sterling bursts into the box and goes down under a challenge from substitute Valery. He wants a penalty, but the referee waves away his appeals.