MANCHESTER: Leaders Manchester City showed that their weekend derby loss was a blip as Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice in a 5-2 win over Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday.

City`s 21-match winning streak in all competitions was rudely interrupted by a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United but normal service was quickly resumed at the Etihad Stadium as they opened up a 14-point gap at the top.

After a slow start City wentahead with their first attack when De Bruyne pounced to convert a rebound in 15th minute, only for James Ward-Prowse to equalise from the penalty spot.

City were then contentiously denied a penalty after goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was adjudged not to have fouled Phil Foden and VAR did not overrule.

But they responded to win convincingly as Mahrez put the hosts ahead and then set up Ilkay Gundogan to make it 3-1 in firsthalf stoppage time before the Algerian produced another clini-cal finish 10 minutes after the interval.

Che Adams replied for an adventurous Southampton but De Bruyne grabbed his second of the night shortly afterwards as City looked like scoring every time they attacked.

City have 68 points from 29 games with Manchester United on 54 from one game fewer.

Southampton, who played impressive football at times, have 33 points from 28 games and are only seven points above the relegation zone af ter a ninth defeat in 11 games.City coach Pep Guardiola praised his players` powers of recovery despite being denied the penalty when the game was delicately poised at 1-1.

`It is just incredible that penalty was not given. One day they are going to explain why. I do not understand it,` Guardiola said.

`That`s why I am proud because in this club, I don`t know in others, what we have done in these past years we won it ourselves that`s for sure.

City`s winning run had started against Southampton back in December when the Saints wereflying high and above the now champions-elect in the table.

The visitors made a bright start before their leaky defence began to creak and City went ahead when Foden`s shot was parried out by McCarthy to De Bruyne who scored of f the crossbar.

Southampton levelled though when Aymeric Laporte fouled Jannik Vestergaard and WardProwse slotted home.

Controversy erupted soon after as City felt they should have had a penalty themselves when McCarthy wiped outFoden after overrunning the ball. The England midfielder tried to stay on his feet to tap into an empty net, but, after the chance slipped away, VAR did not tell referee Jon Moss to review the incident.

City responded to the injustice by going back ahead when Mahrez planted a shot past McCarthy and the Algerian was then denied another goal by the post only for Gundogan to turn in the rebound for his 10th league goal in 2021 and 12th of the campaign.

Mahrez was at the centre ofCity`s attacking onslaught and cleverlyworked space onhisleft foot to make it 4-1 in the 55th minute. Adams then took advantage of a lapse in City`s defence to grab a goal back.

Butno sooner didSouthampton think they had a lifeline than De Bruyne showed great footwork to beat McCarthy again.

`I think we played quite well I must say even though we conceded five goals,` Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said.

`We were very brave with the ball at times. It`s the final quality that is missing.`-Agencies