(Football news) Reigning champions Manchester City moved 12 points clear off second place Liverpool after a 2-0 win over Brentford. The Bees defended resolutely for large chunks of the game but were responsible for conceding both their goals. Mads Roerslev gifted City a penalty after fouling Raheem Sterling in the box which was duly converted by Riyad Mahrez (40th minute) who scored his 16th goal in all competitions. In the 69th minute, David Raya gave possession away to Raheem Sterling whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper but Kevin De Bruyne capitalised on the rebound to make it 2-0. 

The win means Manchester City are 12 points ahead of second place Liverpool while Brentford lost their fifth successive match and are now just six points above the relegation zone. Thomas Frank can be pleased with his side’s performance although he will be disappointed that his side gifted the two goals to Man City. Speaking after the match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: "Liverpool have two games to play then we see the gap – 14 games to play, many points to play for and more tough games like today. Everyone is tough competition, but it is impressive at this stage to have 60 points – we have done incredibly well so far. I'm very satisfied with the performance. We conceded one shot, a few corners and were patient. Difficult when they defend deep with 10 players in their 18-yard box."

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Southampton pulled off a stunning late comeback to defeat the hosts 2-3 with Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams scoring in the space of three minutes. The Saints appeared to be in a losing position after Heung-Min Son scored from Lucas Moura’s cross in the 70th minute. Earlier in the match, Spurs took the lead after Jan Bednarek scored an own goal in the 18th minute but it was Southampton who led the match for majority of the first half and found the equaliser through Broja’s low strike in the 23rd minute from Romain Perraud’s cross.

Antonio Conte’s team displayed an improved performance in the second half and took the lead through Heung-Min Son in the 70th minute, although the goal came with it’s own controversy. Southampton striker Armando Broja was down injured after a challenge from Emerson Royal. The treatment lasted a few minutes during which Antonio Conte had to be restrained by his assistants. However, Southampton had the last laugh when Elyounoussi (79) and Adams (82) found the back of the net from James Ward-Prowse’s crosses. In stoppage time, substitute Steven Bergwijn appeared to have levelled the score for the hosts but the VAR intervened and disallowed the goal for offside. 

The result is a major blow for Tottenham’s top four aspirations while Southampton were lifted into the top half of the Premier League. Speaking after the match,  purs head coach Antonio Conte said "For sure, we have to be disappointed. They were good but I think we made many, many mistakes, especially with the ball, and I think this type of situation creates a bit of mental instability in my team.

“In the second half, then, we started to play, we started to press in the right way and then we created chances to score. We also did that in the first half because every time we play the ball in the right way, we created a situation to go and score, but I repeat, we made many mistakes in the first half – important mistakes. 

“For sure, I think we are now improving in many aspects but we are still too emotional. Against Leicester, we won 3-2 and we were losing 2-1. Today, we were winning 2-1 and we lost 3-2. I think on this aspect, we have to improve because if we want to grow as a team and try to be competitive, the first thing we have to improve is to be stable, not up and down, up and down."

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