Sterling at the double as Man City hit Saints for six

MANCHESTER: Raheem Sterling scored twice for a new contract with Manchester City as the champions swept aside Southampton 6-1 on Sunday to return to the top of the Premier League table.

Sergio Aguero, with his 150th league goal, David Silva and Leroy Sane were also on the mark as Pep Guardiola's side continued their unbeaten start to their title defense.

"We played excellent, without and especially with the ball," Guardiola told the BBC as he insisted he was more than come from England International Sterling.

"He is more mature now than he was when we first met at the club … He is 23 and he can be a better player."

Southampton had the consolation of becoming the first team in 630 minutes to score against the leaders of the city.

They were scoring a record of 106 goals last season, and they made a devastating start at the Etihad that ended the game as a contest within 18 minutes of kick-off.

Sane, David Siva Sane, David Siva Sane, Sullivan, Sage, Wesley Hoedt.

It took a further six minutes for a city to double the lead, Bernardo Silva setting for free Sterling on the right and England forward selflessly squaring for Aguero to hammer in from close range.

Landmark goal
It was the Argentina's 150th league goal for City, a landmark that Michael Owen has in place on the Premier League's all-time goalscoring list.

It appeared to be able to scoring almost at will and a slick move saw them make it into the 18th minute.

Again, Sterling was heavily involved, accepting Bernardo Silva's pass and putting in a cross that was a little too high for David Silva, who was volleyed in at the far post.

Southampton manager Mark Hughes, whose future has been the subject of increasing speculation following his win-win-win-win position.

"We were poor in that opening period," said Hughes. "We were a bit lightweight and did not deal with one-on-one situations."

Southampton did, however, pull back after half an hour, becoming the first English team to score against Newcastle at Etihad at the start of September.

It was a rare mistake from goalkeeper Ederson that led to the Saints goal, the Brazilian diving unnecessarily at the feet of Danny Ings and tripping the forward, who convincingly shot home the penalty.

But there was never a hint that Southampton might be able to launch anything resembling a fightback.

David Silva's through ball came out of play. Aguero showed impressive persistence to chase and pull back for Sterling who, first miskicked but then shot past Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from six yards.

Back to the top of the page James Bond-Prowse and Ings – via wicked deflection off Fernandinho – forcing Ederson to make fine stops.

But City continued to threaten, and Sane almost made it with a vicious left-foot shot from the edge of the area that struck the bar just after the hour.

Sterling did in the 67th minute when he latched onto Aguero's perfectly-weighted pass to score his second goal of the afternoon.

Sane completed an impressive individual and team display in a left-footed shot of 18 yards following another assist from Sterling.