Southampton 1-4 Manchester City: Haaland brace makes it five in a row for Guardiola title hope

Manchester City fell five points behind leaders Arsenal as Erling Haaland's brace helped them to a 4-1 Premier League win over Southampton at St Mary's.

Pep Guardiola's side were shocked 2-0 by Saints in their EFL Cup quarter-final encounter in January but there was never a sign of a repeat on Saturday as the visitors dominated.

Haaland gave them the lead with a powerful header as Kevin De Bruyne reached 100 Premier League assists for his career, before Grealish doubled the lead with an alert finish shortly after the second half.

Haaland scored his 30th Premier League goal of the season before Julian Alvarez converted a penalty as City secured a fifth straight league win. Sekou Mara scored a Saints consolation with a fine finish.

City opened up the hosts in five minutes, a sweeping move ending with Gavin Bazunu making a good save to deny Grealish.

Haaland nearly put the visitors in front when he headed just wide, but he wouldn't miss the target a second time.

De Bruyne's delightful cross picked up the former Borussia Dortmund striker, who headed past Bazunu and into the back of the net to put City ahead in the 45th minute.

Grealish made it 2-0 shortly after the break, with Bazunu making a good save from his initial effort before the winger coldly buried his rebound.

Haaland added his second and City's third with a spectacular bicycle kick, striking home after Grealish's teasing delivery.

Mara scored a goal back when he fired into the bottom left corner, but Alvarez completed the scoring in the 75th minute when he headed home after Kyle Walker-Peters brought down De Bruyne.