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Manchester City is an unstoppable force this season and is well on their way to successfully defend their Premier League title. Pep Guardiola's side came into the game at the prospect of going top of the league and be the sole leaders after Liverpool dropped points against Arsenal.
They faced a Saints side who are struggling to get going and has won just one game in the Premier League this season. Southampton did give City a run for their money in both the fixtures last season, and it took last-minute goals to decide both matches.
However, Mark Hughes had a daunting task of stopping City at Etihad which is a fort for the Citizens and where they are yet to drop a point this campaign.
Manchester City was off from the very first minute and broke the deadlock within five munites of the game courtesy of Wesley Hoedt's own goal. Six minutes following that, City doubled their lead through Aguero. They were strolling on the park, and it was already a mountain to climb for the Saints.
Pep Guardiola's side were three goals up within a flash, but Danny Ings pulled one back for the visitors giving them come up, but all went in vain when Raheem Sterling restored the three-goal difference just before the halftime.
Saints tried to make something out of the game in the second, but goals from Sterling and Sane inflicted the worst defeat in Southampton's Premier League history. Here are the three players who changed the game for City.
#3 Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero is up there with the best strikers in the world right now. His goal scoring record for Manchester City speaks volumes. Whenever the Argentine is talked about, the famous last-minute League title winning goal comes to mind.
When Pep Guardiola was appointed as manager and with Jesus coming to Manchester, there were doubts about his future, but Sergio kept his place and proved why he is irreplaceable in the side.
Again, today he was phenomenally linking up play with Raheem Sterling and David Silva. Aguero scored one for his 150th goal in the Premier League and beautifully set up another for Sterling to score in the first half. Aguero had his second assist of the day after he set up Sterling again for his second goal.
#2 David Silva
David Silva has spent nearly a decade now at Manchester City and still, he is their number one midfielder even after so many years. The guile, creativity and the vision of the Spaniard are next to none.
Silva was the initiator of Southampton's demolition today after he provided a beautiful through pass to Sane who fired in a low cross inside the six-yard box only for Hoedt to bump it into his net. The Spaniard was repeatedly finding the pocket of spaces inside the Saint's penalty area and his link-up play with Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, and Sergio Aguero were keeping the Southampton defence on their toes.
It would have been unfair if Silva didn't get the reward for his efforts. At the eighteenth minute of the game, Leroy Sane was the creator again, but this time his pass found David Silva who drilled the ball at the back of the net with a volley.
#1 Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling left Liverpool for City in search for trophies, and he has not been disappointed since he moved to Manchester. The England International is a live wire in both the flanks and has the pace and skill to give any defender a run for their money.
He is often criticised for his missed opportunities in front of the goal and his tendency to overdo things a bit. There were reports of his contract dispute at the moment with the City board but after today's performance very few would argue about his importance in the squad.
The England international has evolved a lot from last season. He has become a more matured player and learned to keep composure in front of the goal. Today against the Saints, he was exceptional.
In the first half, Raheem was constantly making darting runs and set up Aguero in the twelfth minute to double City's lead. The Argentine returned the favour creating two good chances for Sterling which he grabbed with both hands. Late in the game, he provided an assist for Sane to make it 6-1 for City. Raheem was declared as the fans' Man of the Match.
