Manchester City brushed aside Southampton to move to the top of the Premier League, at least for 24 hours.
They hit four goals without reply with a classy, dominant performance at the Etihad Stadium.
The visitors held out for 20 minutes before Joao Cancelo gave City the lead.
Phil Foden’s fine form continued with a delightful chip on 32 minutes and Riyad Mahrez wrapped up three points four minutes into the second half with a clever volley.
It was wonderful football from the champions throughout, but there was one thing missing, an Erling Haaland goal.
The Norwegian had hit the woodwork and gone close several times but it looked as though it was going to be a rare day without adding to his incredible tally until finally clever play between Kevin De Bruyne and Cancelo saw the latter’s pinpoint cross drilled home by Haaland on 65 to complete a 4-0 win.
As has been the case in recent seasons, Southampton started the game looking organised and determined, pressing high and trying to stifle City’s attacks with men behind the ball.
Yet City’s first real opportunity came when Riyad Mahrez forced a good save out of former Academy keeper Gavin Bazunu on two minutes, with the Republic of Ireland international clawing a rising shot away.
Mahrez had another chance shortly after as he arrived in the box on the end of a deep cross from Cancelo on the left but his volley went well over.
Then Phil Foden sent Erling Haaland clear and there was only one expected outcome as the prolific striker approached the box, but his low shot struck the inside of the post, rolled across the empty net and eventually out of play.
A few minutes later, Cancelo drifted past one challenge on the edge of the box before sending a low drive across Bazunu and into the bottom right corner with 20 minutes played.
It was a typically classy finish by the Portuguese.
Manchester City had started to pick holes in the Saints formation, with the chances starting to come thick and fast and it was a matter of when, not if, that slender lead would be doubled.
The second of the afternoon came on 32 minutes and it was another goal assisted by Kevin De Bruyne who powered forward before playing a pass to Foden who drew Bazunu off his line before expertly chipping the ball over him and into the net.
What had already looked like a mountain to climb for the visitors became an insurmountable challenge within four minutes of the restart as Rodrigo picked out Mahrez’s clever back post run with a lofted pass and the Algerian volleyed the ball into the turf and past Bazunu to make it 3-0.
Haaland had worked tirelessly all afternoon, but his efforts were finally rewarded on 65 minutes when he connected with the impressive Cancelo’s low cross to send a low shot past Bazunu to make it 4-0.
It’s his 20th of what is rapidly turning into a wonderful debut season for the Club.
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