Manchester City produce late flourish to surge to victory at Southampton

Phil Foden (centre) celebrates scoring the third goal of Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Images

It had hardly been a wobble for Manchester City. A couple of 0-0 draws, the first against Sporting in a Champions League tie already sewn up; the second at Crystal Palace in the Premier League. But when the club give their critics so little ammunition and their rivals so little hope, anything will be seized upon – particularly with Liverpool so remorseless, hoovering up the space behind them in the league.

This was a brutal flexing of City’s authority, a step into a fifth FA Cup semi-final in six seasons under Pep Guardiola, the manner of their surge to victory in the closing stages taking the breath.