Theo Walcott 8, Jannik Vestergaard 8; Raheem Sterling 6, Ferran Torres 4 - Southampton v Manchester City player ratings

Sterling's first-half effort clinches all three points at St Mary's

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Manchester City secured a much-needed win to keep their Premier League title challenge alive as Raheem Sterling's goal earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory at fourth-placed Southampton.

City slipped to 11 points behind leaders Liverpool prior to kick off, albeit with two games in hand on the champions, and once again had to rely on a solid defensive display to edge up to fifth in the table thanks to a seventh clean sheet in eight games.

Pep Guardiola's men were again guilty of not being ruthless enough in front of goal with the few chances they did create, but one moment of quality that saw Kevin De Bruyne tee up Sterling separated the sides.