Erling Haaland scored yet again as Manchester City piled on the pressure for Southampton manager Raplh Hasenhuttl with a 4-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland claimed his 20th goal in just 13 City appearances as the champions moved top of the Premier League with a routine victory on Saturday.
Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez had already scored by the time the Norwegian, who had earlier hit the woodwork and spurned a handful of other chances, finally found the net in the second half.
It put the seal on another fine performance and took City’s goal tally from the three games they have played in the past week to 15.
Goalscorer Riyad Mahrez, speaking to BBC Sport, said: "It was a difficult game, we made it easy by scoring early and then we controlled. We had a lot of chances to score more but we didn't. We didn't concede much, it was a controlled game.
"Haaland is part of our team, he is our striker. Like any other striker, if we can find him it's perfect because he is on fire. If not, there are a lot of players and everyone can make a difference. We have to keep going with the momentum."
While Pep Guardiola’s formidable side could once again look down on the rest of the competition – at least until Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday – it was another dismal afternoon for Saints.
Hasenhuttl’s side have now lost four games in succession and the Austrian may do well to survive in his job much longer. Saints fans were reduced to celebrating winning corners by the end, such was the nature of their surrender.
Yet they will not be the last side to be outplayed by City, who set the tone in the first minute when Mahrez forced a good save from Gavin Bazunu.
Mahrez, who had retained his place ahead of the in-form Jack Grealish, then volleyed over when well placed.
City fans may have been wishing those chances had fallen to Haaland but the Norwegian also proved that he is fallible.
Haaland looked certain to score as he raced through from a Foden pass but his shot struck the inside of the post.
That was a let-off for Southampton but their luck did not last much longer as Cancelo charged through their defence to open the scoring with a thunderous shot.
Haaland’s next attempt was blocked by Che Adams and Foden was thwarted by former City keeper Bazunu but the England international was not to be denied for long.
De Bruyne was the provider, registering a new club record 94th Premier League assist as he slipped the ball into the box for Foden to finish with an exquisite lob.
Stuart Armstrong lashed a shot over as Southampton threatened for the first time but normal service was resumed after the break.
In another high-quality City move, Mahrez claimed the third on 50 minutes with a left-footed volley from a tight angle on the right after Rodri lofted the ball into the box.
Haaland, still looking to get in on the action, then shot just wide before unexpectedly failing to make contact with a De Bruyne ball across the six-yard line. It began to look like it would not be his day as, with Julian Alvarez warming up, Haaland was played in by De Bruyne again only for Bazunu to get to the ball first.
Yet the 22-year-old battled on and was typically in the right place to turn home a square Cancelo pass from close range after the Portuguese had linked with De Bruyne.
The job was done and City eased to the final whistle, even allowing Southampton some belated possession.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Raghida, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,200m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Liwa Oasis Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Trolius, Ryan Powell, Simon Crisford
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
RESULT
Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay: Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')
Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
