Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of the day's early kick-off in the Premier League. In store for you today we have title hopefuls Manchester City taking on Southampton from the Etihad Stadium.

The full-time whistle sounds. Southampton gave a really good go of it, but were ultimately undone by an impressive City outfit. City move to within a point of league leaders Liverpool, still with a game in hand. Thanks for joining us today.

We'll have three minutes of added time at the end of this match.

POST!! Almost five, yet again. City are enjoying themselves now, and almost add to their tally as Toure is found on the edge of the penalty area. The Ivorian attempts to drill the ball into the far corner, but Gazzaniga is down early to get a finger tip on it and divert it onto the post.

Nasri’s corner is whipped onto the six-yard box. The keeper comes for it but can’t get there, though his blushes are saved as Wanyama heads clear.

Easy stuff for City now. They're just stroking the ball around themselves as Southamton chase their own shadows.

ALMOST FIVE!! Negredo has the chance to end his goal drought as he pulls away from his marker and gallops into the Southampton penalty area. Gazzaniga is off his line in a flash to smother the Spaniard, denying him from 12 yards. Smart stop.

GOAL!! It's four for City, and another lovely goal. Kompany starts it off as he sends Zabaleta down the right, allowing for the full-back to drill the ball across the face of the goal. Gazzaniga can't get there as Jovetic pokes home.

Jack Cork is replaced in what is Southampton's final change. Victor Wanyama, who has spent more time on the treatment table in recent months, is introduced.

Shocking!! Toure goes into the referee's book for simulation. There's absolutely no need to do that.

City now make a change. David Silva's number is up, and the Spaniard receives a huge applause from the home crowd. Stevan Jovetic will be given the final 13 minutes of this match.

Sam Gallagher is introduced for the visiting side and replaces Steve Davies.

BIG, BIG CHANCE FOR SOUTHAMPTON!! A neat little move on the edge of the City box culminates in Lallana’s reverse pass playing in Lambert. The striker is definitely onside and only has Hart to beat, but he drags his shot wide of the goal. Great chance to get his side back in the match.

Negredo now peels off the back of Fonte and is spotted by Silva, who attempts the diagonal pass. The flag stays down and the Southampton defence are frantically trying to make the ground, but Gazzaniga is off his line in a flash to clear.

Chance for Negredo to wrap it up, but the Spaniard is obviously lacking in confidence and makes a real mess of what looks like a great chance. Nasri’s pinpoint pass has the Spaniard through on goal, but, rather than shooting, he comes back inside and gets his feet in a muddle before being stripped of the ball.

Great work from Lallana once more. He shows a turn of pace to wriggle away from two challenges and move the ball forward. There’s a real lack of support from the England midfielder, though, and he is forced back. City are back in numbers and look in no danger.

A lovely flick from Silva bamboozles the Southampton backline and sets Nasri free. The Frenchman dawdles on the ball, which gives Shaw time to recover and hack the ball clear.

Javi Garcia goes into referee Chris Foy’s book for a poor challenge on Cork. Southampton looked to be making inroads and the Spaniard made sure that the move stopped there.

City break following a Southampton attack and have men forward. Negredo is sent down the left, but the overlapping Kolarov assumes responsibility and drills the ball into the penalty area. Fonte misses the cross at the near post, but Lovren is on hand to clear.

As they did in the first half, Southampton are starting to get a foothold now after spending much of the opening minutes defending for their lives. Lallana produces some quick feet down the left before forcing Zabaleta into conceding a corner.

Yes, yes it will. Edin Dzeko makes way and is replaced by Negredo.