Manchester City inflict six-goal thumping on Southampton

Relive all the action from the Premier League clash at the Etihad

Pep Guardiola says club is 'sad' for Kevin De Bruyne as midfielder suffers another injury

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.

PA

Relive all the action below.

[4 November 2018 13:23 · Jack de Menezes]

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.

[4 November 2018 14:08 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Top of the league

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.

[4 November 2018 14:10 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Team News

[4 November 2018 14:19 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Changes

Just the one change to the Manchester City lineup. Leroy Sane replaces Riyad Mahrez, who drops to the bench.

For Southampton, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Shane Long and James Ward-Prowse all come in to the side.

[4 November 2018 14:31 · Callum Rice-Coates]

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.

[4 November 2018 14:43 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Tough task

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.

[4 November 2018 14:48 · Callum Rice-Coates]

  ↵Recent form - and recent history - does not look favourable for Southampton either.

[4 November 2018 14:57 · Callum Rice-Coates]

The teams are out at the Etihad. We're moments away from kick off...

[4 November 2018 15:01 · Callum Rice-Coates]

We're off! Can Southampton keep City out in the early stages? Or will the hosts' attacking firepower prove too hot to handle?

[4 November 2018 15:06 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Manchester City 0-0 Southampton

4 minutes

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.