• MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6, Made some good saves throughout the game, with it taking an effort from the penalty spot and fortuitous drop of the ball to beat him. Some of his passing was a bit off. EPA
    MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6, Made some good saves throughout the game, with it taking an effort from the penalty spot and fortuitous drop of the ball to beat him. Some of his passing was a bit off. EPA
  • Kyle Walker - 6, Defended fairly well and played a good pass into Foden in the lead up to City’s fifth of the game. EPA
    Kyle Walker - 6, Defended fairly well and played a good pass into Foden in the lead up to City’s fifth of the game. EPA
  • Ruben Dias - 6, Played a good pass in the build-up to the opener and looked typically authoritative in a lot of his defending. EPA
    Ruben Dias - 6, Played a good pass in the build-up to the opener and looked typically authoritative in a lot of his defending. EPA
  • Aymeric Laporte - 4, Looked shaky at times and pulled Jannik Vestergaard to concede the penalty for Southampton’s goal, while he could have been a bit more decisive for the away side’s second. Reuters
    Aymeric Laporte - 4, Looked shaky at times and pulled Jannik Vestergaard to concede the penalty for Southampton’s goal, while he could have been a bit more decisive for the away side’s second. Reuters
  • Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6, Made good runs forward, one of which played a part in the opener, but got away with giving the ball away in a dangerous area. Reuters
    Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6, Made good runs forward, one of which played a part in the opener, but got away with giving the ball away in a dangerous area. Reuters
  • Kevin De Bruyne - 9, Scored the opener against the run of play, linked up play nicely in the build-up for the home side’s third and then scored their fifth nicely. EPA
    Kevin De Bruyne - 9, Scored the opener against the run of play, linked up play nicely in the build-up for the home side’s third and then scored their fifth nicely. EPA
  • Fernandinho - 6, It was another reliable performance from the Brazilian, who was as combative as ever. Booked for a foul on Nathan Tella. Reuters
    Fernandinho - 6, It was another reliable performance from the Brazilian, who was as combative as ever. Booked for a foul on Nathan Tella. Reuters
  • Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Had stages where he faded out of the game, but the German scored City’s third with an instinctive finish – displaying his anticipation. EPA
    Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Had stages where he faded out of the game, but the German scored City’s third with an instinctive finish – displaying his anticipation. EPA
  • Phil Foden - 9, It was a busy performance from the 20-year-old. His shot being saved lead to the opener, while he got the assist for City’s fourth and fifth. He could have even had a penalty. AFP
    Phil Foden - 9, It was a busy performance from the 20-year-old. His shot being saved lead to the opener, while he got the assist for City’s fourth and fifth. He could have even had a penalty. AFP
  • Bernardo Silva - 6, Looked composed no matter the situation and moved the ball well, but one of his touches lead to Southampton getting their second. Came so close to getting a ball of his own. AFP
    Bernardo Silva - 6, Looked composed no matter the situation and moved the ball well, but one of his touches lead to Southampton getting their second. Came so close to getting a ball of his own. AFP
  • Riyad Mahrez - 9, The Algerian was such a threat. Scored with a great strike from outside the box, then his good footwork and effort going off the post lead to the third, before he scored another of his own. EPA
    Riyad Mahrez - 9, The Algerian was such a threat. Scored with a great strike from outside the box, then his good footwork and effort going off the post lead to the third, before he scored another of his own. EPA
  • SUB: SUB Ferran Torres (Mahrez 61’) - 4, Missed a great chance and struggled to make much of an impact – though Mahrez was a tough act to follow. Reuters
    SUB: SUB Ferran Torres (Mahrez 61’) - 4, Missed a great chance and struggled to make much of an impact – though Mahrez was a tough act to follow. Reuters
  • SUB: Sergio Aguero (De Bruyne 72’) – N/R, Got a fairly good effort off but there were definitely - and understandably - signs that he was a bit rusty. AFP
    SUB: Sergio Aguero (De Bruyne 72’) – N/R, Got a fairly good effort off but there were definitely - and understandably - signs that he was a bit rusty. AFP
  • SUB: Benjamin Mendy (Zinchenko 81’) – N/R, Put in a good performance and didn’t look stretched at all defensively. AFP
    SUB: Benjamin Mendy (Zinchenko 81’) – N/R, Put in a good performance and didn’t look stretched at all defensively. AFP
  • SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy - 5, Was unlucky for the opener, but he was repaid by getting away with one after a poor touch almost lead to him giving away a penalty. Had no chance for the other goals. Reuters
    SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy - 5, Was unlucky for the opener, but he was repaid by getting away with one after a poor touch almost lead to him giving away a penalty. Had no chance for the other goals. Reuters
  • Ryan Bertrand - 6, Very willing to get forward and defended resolutely. While there will be questions asked about his involvement in the opener, Bertrand had little chance having been put in a two-on-one situation. EPA
    Ryan Bertrand - 6, Very willing to get forward and defended resolutely. While there will be questions asked about his involvement in the opener, Bertrand had little chance having been put in a two-on-one situation. EPA
  • Jan Bednarek - 5, Showed intelligence in some of his defending, but won’t want to watch himself being nutmegged for the fifth again. EPA
    Jan Bednarek - 5, Showed intelligence in some of his defending, but won’t want to watch himself being nutmegged for the fifth again. EPA
  • Jannik Vestergaard - 6, Won Southampton’s penalty but there were times where the defender was caught ball-watching and showed a lack of awareness. Reuters
    Jannik Vestergaard - 6, Won Southampton’s penalty but there were times where the defender was caught ball-watching and showed a lack of awareness. Reuters
  • Mohammed Salisu -5, Started well but struggled when Mahrez really got going and got away with sloppy play in his box, when Torres missed an easy chance. AFP
    Mohammed Salisu -5, Started well but struggled when Mahrez really got going and got away with sloppy play in his box, when Torres missed an easy chance. AFP
  • James Ward-Prowse - 7, Converted confidently from the penalty spot, tested Ederson from range and was often seen directing his teammates off the ball. Reuters
    James Ward-Prowse - 7, Converted confidently from the penalty spot, tested Ederson from range and was often seen directing his teammates off the ball. Reuters
  • Jack Stephens - 5, Playing in midfield, Stephens worked well defensively but looked out of place at times when trying to make things happen on the ball. AFP
    Jack Stephens - 5, Playing in midfield, Stephens worked well defensively but looked out of place at times when trying to make things happen on the ball. AFP
  • Stuart Armstrong - 5, Should have tracked back much better for the opener and struggled to really test Zinchenko for large periods. Reuters
    Stuart Armstrong - 5, Should have tracked back much better for the opener and struggled to really test Zinchenko for large periods. Reuters
  • Moussa Djenepo - 6, Showed brilliant discipline and work rate to help out defensively, but will likely be disappointed about missing the chance that presented itself to him in the first half. EPA
    Moussa Djenepo - 6, Showed brilliant discipline and work rate to help out defensively, but will likely be disappointed about missing the chance that presented itself to him in the first half. EPA
  • Nathan Redmond - 7, Southampton’s biggest threat from open play and provided a nice touch for Adams’ goal. Also forced a decent save from Ederson. Reuters
    Nathan Redmond - 7, Southampton’s biggest threat from open play and provided a nice touch for Adams’ goal. Also forced a decent save from Ederson. Reuters
  • Che Adams - 6, His shocking attempt to pass the ball across the pitch lead to Mahrez’s goal, but he’ll feel a bit better after he got a goal of his own. Saw a good strike chalked off for offside. AFP
    Che Adams - 6, His shocking attempt to pass the ball across the pitch lead to Mahrez’s goal, but he’ll feel a bit better after he got a goal of his own. Saw a good strike chalked off for offside. AFP
  • SUB: Nathan Tella (Djenepo HT) - 6, Fought throughout his time on the pitch and showed flashes of quality on the ball. Reuters
    SUB: Nathan Tella (Djenepo HT) - 6, Fought throughout his time on the pitch and showed flashes of quality on the ball. Reuters
  • SUB: Ibrahima Diallo (Stephens 63’) - 6, Passed the ball neatly and did well in his defensive game. AFP
    SUB: Ibrahima Diallo (Stephens 63’) - 6, Passed the ball neatly and did well in his defensive game. AFP
  • SUB: Caleb Watts (Armstrong 73’) – N/R, Got minutes under his belt against top opposition and gave a decent account of himself. AFP
    SUB: Caleb Watts (Armstrong 73’) – N/R, Got minutes under his belt against top opposition and gave a decent account of himself. AFP

Manchester City v Southampton player ratings: De Bruyne, Mahrez and Foden fantastic as Saints defenders suffer


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Leaders Manchester City showed that their weekend derby loss was a blip as Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice in a 5-2 win over Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday.

City's 21-match winning streak in all competitions was interrupted by a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United but normal service was quickly resumed at the Etihad Stadium as they opened up a 14-point gap at the top.

After a slow start City went ahead with their first attack when De Bruyne pounced to convert a rebound in 15th minute, only for James Ward-Prowse to equalise from the penalty spot.

Mahrez restored City's lead and Ilkay Gundogan made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time before Mahrez produced another clinical finish 10 minutes after the interval.

Che Adams replied for an adventurous Southampton but De Bruyne grabbed his second of the night shortly afterwards as City looked like scoring every time they attacked.

City have 68 points from 29 games with Manchester United on 54 from one game fewer.

Southampton, who played impressive football at times, have 33 points from 28 games and are only seven points above the relegation zone after a ninth defeat in 11 games.