Liverpool drubbing was a wake-up call

GOALKEEPER Willy Caballero believes Manchester City’s thrashing by Liverpool acted as a wake–up call.

City got back to winning ways after three games without a victory – the nadir being a 4–1 mauling at the hands of the Merseysiders – as they saw off Ronald Koeman’s Southampton 3–1.

The result took City back to the top of the Barclays Premier League and the title favourites now want to make sure they stay there.

Caballero, who took over in goal from injured England number one Joe Hart, said: “It was like a call with big attention – Liverpool played really well. I think we learned after this defeat and we started again. From the first minute, we were hungry to win.”

City started with a determination to put an end to their recent poor sequence, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes through Kevin De Bruyne and, on his full debut, Fabian Delph.

Southampton rallied and replied early in the second half with a Shane Long header, but the visitors were unable to capitalise further on a spell of dominance and were killed off by Aleksandar Kolarov in the 69th minute.

The downside for City was the loss of Sergio Aguero in the second half through injury, but manager Manuel Pellegrini later played down the issue, describing it as a mere “kick in the heel” that he did not think was serious.