Edin Dzeko Manchester City
City's Edin Dzeko, left, scored one of his squad's four goals in their victory over Southampton on Saturday. Reuters

Gaining ground atop the Premier League table, Manchester City provided an offensive explosion in their 4-1 victory over Southampton in Saturday’s matchup at Etihad.

City’s Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko broke a 1-1 tie with goals in first half extra time three minutes apart, and Stevan Jovetic provided some cushion in the 81st minute as the squad pulled within one point of Liverpool for first place.

Yaya Toure scored his 18th goal of the year off a penalty in the third minute to give City a 1-0 lead, but Southampton’s Rickie Lambert equalized off his penalty in the 37th minute. It was the 11th goal of the year for Lambert, but it proved Southampton’s only score of the match, as the squad could only muster five total shots despite forcing nine corner kicks and maintaining a 56-44 possession advantage.

It was a missed opportunity for Southampton to remain in contention for Europa League play, and they are stuck in eighth place, resting eight points back of Tottenham and six of Manchester United.

Nasri may have gotten away with an offsides as he slipped past Southampton’s backline to receive David Silva’s through ball for a close range shot and goal to break the lead in extra time.

Shortly after another possible offsides may have allowed Dzeko to power through a header off defender Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross, and City had the match in hand as the first half closed.

Jovetic’s second goal of the season was without controversy as he tapped Jesus Navas’s cross into the back of the net after the ball scooted past diving Southampton keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Manchester City 4-1 Southampton All Goals...by All_Goals