Manchester City roared back into lethal form at just the right time to keep their treble bid alive. The Blues swept aside Southampton in the second half after a competitive opening 45 minutes to book yet another Wembley date.
Kevin De Bruyne’s penalty, Phil Foden's stunner and Riyad Mahrez’s 22nd of the season blew away the Saints after an Aymeric Laporte own goal had seen Southampton level Raheem Sterling’s opener. And, while winning the game was important, perhaps the fact that City rediscovered their touch in the final third - which was ordinary, bordering on ragged in goalless draws with Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace - was the biggest take from this game.
Now the City stars head off on international duty in good shape and poised for a trip to Burnley and then the week in which the destiny of the season could well be determined, as the title showdown with Liverpool is sandwiched by two Champions League quarter-final legs against Atletico Madrid. They needed to cut loose and find their fluency again, and they did it - noticeably once Foden and Mahrez had gone on as substitutes.
