The alarm bells shrilled for Manchester City. Almost out of nowhere, they had lost three Premier League games out of four and, with Liverpool flicking on the afterburners, it is no exaggeration to say that another reverse would have imperilled their title defence. Pep Guardiola and his players could feel a bit better after this. City imposed their front-foot football and, although they wobbled at times during the first half, they had too much for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s rebooted Southampton.

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City’s self-belief flooded back during a one-sided second half, when it was a minor miracle that they did not add to their lead, but the most important thing was the result. The victory cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to seven points going into Thursday night’s seismic match between the clubs at the Etihad. Win that and City are back in business.

They will have to tighten up on the finer details to do so. Defensively, there were flaws and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who had erred for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s equaliser, was almost caught out by James Ward-Prowse towards the end of the first half when the score was still 1-1. Ward-Prowse took a raking crossfield ball, he had the run on Zinchenko inside the area and, when he felt contact, he went down. A penalty might have changed everything but, in truth, there was not enough in it for a kick to be awarded. Guardiola said that Ward-Prowse had dived.

At the other end, it is doubtful whether Liverpool will afford City as many chances as Southampton did – the lack of end product was baffling on too many occasions. Yet the positives far outweighed the negatives, with City crafting an unassailable cushion thanks to a Ward-Prowse own goal and Sergio Agüero’s header immediately after the Southampton penalty appeal.

Southampton’s frustrations were summed up by Højbjerg’s dreadful challenge on Fernandinho in the 85th minute, which earned the home captain a straight red card. Højbjerg was high and out of control with his scissors-style tackle and was condemned by Hasenhüttl for his foolishness. Guardiola was incensed and immediately withdrew Fernandinho, who had earlier been caught by a yellow-card challenge from Charlie Austin.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was sent off for this foul on Fernandinho. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

It was Fernandinho’s first game back after a thigh injury and he brought reassurance and tempo from his position in front of the back four. At times like these, he can feel irreplaceable. City had started brightly and David Silva’s early goal pepped their confidence. Bernardo Silva swapped passes with Riyad Mahrez far too easily to cross and David Silva’s first-time finish was low and true.

City did not have it all their own way and Southampton had a great chance to take the lead on nine minutes only for Austin to waste it. Mohamed Elyounoussi’s clipped first-time through-ball was beautifully executed but, confronted by Ederson, Austin took a clumsy touch and the moment was gone.

Guardiola’s side played some lovely one-touch stuff which even included Ederson. The goalkeeper’s composure on the ball when being pressed by red-and-white shirts was either sub-zero cool or terrifyingly reckless, depending on your viewpoint. He fired an end-to-end move in the 19th minute which featured a ball out from Fernandinho and a surging run by Mahrez whose finish was narrowly off target.

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City might have been further in front before they were pegged back during an entertaining first half. Raheem Sterling had outmuscled Jack Stephens at the outset only to be denied by Alex McCarthy, while the Southampton goalkeeper blocked from Agüero at point-blank range following Sterling’s low cross.

Southampton were level shortly after Ederson kept out Austin’s flicked header from a corner with a diving one-handed save. Zinchenko was the City villain, turning into trouble and Højbjerg, and the Dane finished well. He drove into the area, shifted the ball smartly on to his right foot and sent his shot rising inside the near corner.

Southampton had their tails up and they implored the referee, Paul Tierney, to give them a penalty when Ward-Prowse tumbled under Zinchenko’s intervention. City salted the wound immediately and it was another hard-luck story for Ward-Prowse. Sterling darted into space inside the area and when he crossed the ball deflected wickedly off Ward-Prowse and flew inside the near corner of the net.

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City deservedly increased their lead when Zinchenko crossed and Jan Bednarek lost Agüero – the footballing equivalent of hara-kiri. Agüero headed down and the ball squirmed underneath McCarthy. It was a moment of redemption for Zinchenko.

The one-two punch deflated Southampton and City eased to the win. The home team had looked jaded in the defeat to West Ham here on Thursday night and they chased shadows in the second half. The speed and slickness of some of City’s play was too much for them.

Chances came and went in the second half. Sterling was denied in a one-on-one by McCarthy; Agüero spun and curled against the woodwork; Sterling was denied a penalty after a challenge from the substitute Yan Valery and Mahrez blew another one-on-one with McCarthy. Now for Liverpool.