Phil Foden continued to shine as Manchester City moved 14 points clear at the top after seven-goal thriller.
It proved to be March madness at the Etihad as City beat Southampton by five goals to two.
Foden played an influential role from the left of the front three, being directly involved in 3 goals, picking up 2 assists in a terrific performance.
Foden said: “I’ve played in many positions this year and even today I changed my role slightly and I’m enjoying new these new roles and it can only help become a better player.”
“I’ve been scoring a lot this year so I want to add assists to my game as well.”
The young Englishman is enduring his best season in front of goal, registering six goals so far in the league and proving himself game after game.
Derby defeat forgotten
City bounced back off the canvas after their defeat in the Manchester derby last Sunday which ended their run of 21 consecutive wins.
Southampton started the game on the higher foot, dominating possession and posing a threat inside the opening 10 minutes, however failed to produce an attempt on goal.
City eventually found them selves in the final third in the 14th minute on their first attack, Oleksandr Zinchenko pulled back a low cross to Foden who’s shot was saved but kindly fell to Kevin De Bruyne who finished from close range.
Saints first corner led to Jannick Vestergaard being impeded by Aymeric Laporte inside the City penalty area, referee John Moss was quick to point to the spot with no VAR required.
James Ward-Prowse rewarded Southampton’s early dominance by placing his penalty straight down the middle of Ederson’s net which levelled the game at one a piece on the 25th minute.
Errors from the visitors
Southampton architects of their own downfall as five minutes before the break, Che Adams played a weak pass right in front of the Saints 18-yard box which Riyad Mahrez pounced upon and fired an emphatic shot straight into the bottom left corner.
Perhaps the biggest blow of them all came in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Mahrez’s mazey drive into the box opened up space for a shot which was smartly saved but once again falling to a poaching Ilkay Gundogan who tapped it in from close range.
City went into the break in front by three goals to one after a typically clinical opening 45 minutes.
The leaders fourth goal came in the 54th minute as Mahrez once again showed his quality with a smart finish from inside the box at the keepers near post.
The away side refused to give up as one minute after conceding in the 56th minute, a deflection from Stuart Armstrong’s effort left an open net for Che Adams to score their second.
An eventful five minutes was capped off with De Bruyne getting his brace as Foden set it up for the Belgian international to powerfully slot it past McCarthy in the 59th minute.
The win pushes Man City’s title hopes in reaching distance, now only needing 17 points to gain them their third title in four years.
Southampton remain In 14th position after a tricky start to the calendar year, however are still seven points clear of the relegation zone.
By Kyle Pogue-Elms
