Manchester City imposed their front-foot football and, although they wobbled at times during the first half, they had too much for Ralph Hasenhuttl's rebooted Southampton.
Pep Guardiola had mentioned confidence – or the sudden lack of it – after the Boxing Day defeat at Leicester and what would have pleased him the most was how it returned.
City did not have it all their own way and Southampton created a glorious chance to take the lead on nine minutes only for Charlie Austin to waste it.
Guardiola’s side might have been further in front before they were pegged back during an entertaining first half.
City salted the wound almost immediately and it was another hard-luck story for Ward-Prowse.
City took a bigger lead into the interval, which their football deserved, when Zinchenko crossed and Jan Bednarek lost Agüero – the footballing equivalent of hari-kari.
The one-two punch deflated Southampton and City eased to the win.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
