Newcastle United have moved up to third place in the table following a 4-1 win against Southampton as the Magpies' unbeaten run goes on.
Miguel Almiron broke the deadlock for Newcastle in the 35th minute with a fine individual goal before substitute Chris Wood and Joe Willock scored two goals in the space of just four minutes after the break. Romain Perraud pulled one back for Southampton in the 89th minute, but Bruno Guimaraes added a fourth late on.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Southampton vs Newcastle United highlights
Newcastle, scarily, were not even at their best as another warning sent to Premier League
Pep Guardiola labelled Newcastle a 'contender' this week and this was certainly going to be a good test of Newcastle's European credentials and mentality as a whole. After winning five of their last six games, could the in-form Magpies keep that run going against a Southampton side fighting for their lives down near the bottom of the table?
It was no gimme. There are no straightforward games in the Premier League, after all, and last week was a reminder of that after Leeds and Brighton defeated Liverpool and Chelsea respectively. This Southampton side had also previously taken points off Arsenal and Chelsea at home so Newcastle had to match the hosts' intensity from the off.
Southampton certainly made things difficult for Newcastle in the opening half an hour but, like against Villa eight days previously, the relentless Magpies cut loose and put another side to the sword with a number of goals in quick succession either side of half-time. Howe's side, scarily, were not even at their very best and, yet, this was their sixth win in seven games as they keep their unbeaten run going. They are making it look easy when it is anything but at this level.
Miguel Almiron highlights quality difference
A scrappy game needed a moment of magic and Miguel Almiron provided it once again with a goal that showed the very best of the Paraguay international's qualities - on and off the ball.
It was Almiron who started the move off after slipping the ball to Sean Longstaff down the right. Longstaff attempted to play a one-two with Callum Wilson, but the Newcastle number nine was bundled over by Mohammed Salisu as he received it. Referee Stuart Attwell, smartly, played the advantage after Almiron seized upon the ball before driving towards goal, dancing past Ainsley Maitland-Niles and calmly sweeping the ball past Gavin Bazanu with his left foot.
Ahead of this game, Howe said Almiron's left foot was 'like a wand' and there is no stopping the 28-year-old in this sort of form. In truth, you could not put a price on Almiron's contribution on an afternoon where Southampton forwards Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams both spurned good opportunities.
No other player in the Premier League has scored more goals (seven) since the start of October than Almiron and the 28-year-old remains the club's top scorer with eight goals. To put that return into perspective, Almiron has already scored as many Premier League goals as he did in his first two top-flight campaigns combined.
Sven Botman's fury sums up mentality
It shows how high standards are now at Newcastle that when Romain Perraud pulled a goal back for Southampton in the 89th minute, Sven Botman was absolutely furious. Newcastle were 3-0 up at the time, but Botman prides himself on clean sheets and the Magpies were closing in on their fourth shutout in six games.
Three points may have already been secured but, after Southampton grabbed a consolation, Botman threw his arms up in the air in frustration and jumped on the spot. That mindset will serve Newcastle well moving forward and it has certainly played its part in Howe's side having the meanest defence in the league.
Bruno Guimaraes ruthlessly ends Southampton hope
That goal from Romain Perraud gave Southampton the tiniest bit of hope as the Saints defender led his team-mates back into their own half in a bid to get the game restarted quickly. There were still four minutes of stoppage time to go, after all.
Once upon a time, Newcastle may have gone into survival mode but Bruno Guimaraes' quickly killed Southampton off once and for all after letting fly from 25 yards to make it 4-1 with a curling effort into the bottom corner in the 91st minute. It was a ruthless finish.
Callum Wilson worry eased and Chris Wood steps up
As well as the goals, and the assists for that matter, what has been noticeable in recent weeks is just how robust Callum Wilson has been since coming back from a hamstring injury. This was Wilson's seventh successive start in the space of just 36 days and you have to go back nearly two years for the last time the number nine managed such a run. Newcastle supporters may have been sweating when Wilson went off at the break, but the 'rundown' number nine had been battling illness during the week.
Losing Wilson would have once been a doomsday scenario for Newcastle, but Chris Wood, the man who replaced the number nine, soon doubled his side's advantage with a fine finish. Wood had his back to goal when Jacob Murphy played the ball to him in the 58th minute, but the New Zealand international shook off Salisu before firing the ball into the bottom corner on the turn as he scored at St Mary's for the second season running.
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