Football: Man City maintain pressure on EPL leaders Liverpool with win over Southampton

Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure scores the opening goal from a penalty against Southampton during the English Premiership League football match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, north w
Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure scores the opening goal from a penalty against Southampton during the English Premiership League football match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, north west England on April 5, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Manchester City stepped up the pressure on their English Premier League title rivals with a 4-1 victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini's side took full advantage with Yaya Toure's third-minute penalty setting them on course for victory and Stevan Jovetic wrapping up the win in nine minutes from time.

In between, they had been forced to overcome the shock of conceding a 37th-minute equaliser to Rickie Lambert's penalty, before regaining control with two goals in first half stoppage time from Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko - although City clearly benefited from an incorrect offside decision in the build-up to Nasri's goal.

For Southampton, defeat came with the added cost of a serious-looking knee injury to Jay Rodriguez that could rule the forward out of England's World Cup plans.

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