Sergio Aguero may not have scored at Southampton but his all-round contribution was obvious... Manchester City's talisman is Luis Suarez minus the madness

 Aguero celebrates with Yaya Toure after the setting up the midfielder to score City's opening goal



•    Man City produced an impressive performance to beat Southampton 3-0
•    Sergio Aguero set up two goals and tormented the Saints back line
•    He should have been awarded a penalty when fouled by Jose Fonte
•    Aguero has 17 goals already this season
•    He is having the same talismanic influence as Luis Suarez last season
•    But unlike the ex-Liverpool man, Aguero doesn't bring any embarrassment
Sergio Aguero does not have to be on the scoresheet to have a match-winning influence.
Granted, there are not many games these days in which the Argentine fails to find the net, as an impressive tally of 17 goals already this season proves.
But on those rare occasions when Aguero doesn't score, you appreciate his all-round contribution to Manchester City's cause even more.

Aguero takes on Morgan Schneiderlin (left), Jose Fonte (middle) and Toby Alderweireld during the match

Sergio Aguero does not have to be on the scoresheet to have a match-winning influence.
Granted, there are not many games these days in which the Argentine fails to find the net, as an impressive tally of 17 goals already this season proves.
But on those rare occasions when Aguero doesn't score, you appreciate his all-round contribution to Manchester City's cause even more.

Sunday's emphatic 3-0 victory at Southampton was a case in point. Aguero led the line magnificently, turning in one of his best performances of the season. He didn't score but still defined the outcome of the game, like Luis Suarez used to for Liverpool.
Plotting his 42 touches of the ball on a map of the pitch, as Match of the Day 2 did in their analysis on Sunday night, showed how Aguero caused problems for the whole Southampton back line.

Aguero scored a hat-trick in City's midweek win over Bayern Munich, taking his season's tally to 17 goals

                                      Aguero heat map from the Southampton match show

He was here, there and everywhere. Left side, right side, through the middle. The striker spent the afternoon as a busybody, twisting and turning past challenges, drifting into space, orchestrating the attack, carving out chances.
He set-up City's first goal for Yaya Toure and their third for Gael Clichy. He also should have won a penalty when brought down by Jose Fonte, only to be shown a yellow card for simulation in a senseless decision by referee Mike Jones.
Had Aguero not missed a straightforward chance at the far post in the 64th minute it would have been the perfect performance to mark his 100th Premier League game.
No matter. His all-round contribution underlined - as if we needed further proof - that his priceless importance goes far beyond goals.

                 City find themselves six points behind Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table

Aguero takes on Morgan Schneiderlin (left), Jose Fonte (middle) and Toby Alderweireld during the match

Aguero's work-rate couldn't be faulted - he ran 9.7km during the match and recovered possession on three occasions through his relentless pursuit of Southampton's defenders.
His sensational hat-trick against Bayern Munich last week looks like a turning point in City's season. Prior to that match, they had won just twice in seven matches in all competitions.
Suddenly, they look a more unified and effective force. City may have given Chelsea a head-start in the Premier League title race but they're not about to give up the chase.
Aguero will have the singular impact on City's challenge for silverware this season as Suarez had for Liverpool last.

Match of the Day's Aguero touch map showed how he caused problems for the entire Saints back line

Suarez scored 31 Premier League goals as Liverpool finished a fraction short of the title. But his all-round contribution in setting up goals for others and his general commitment and work ethic were also exceptional.

Aguero will have the same influence on City's title challenge as Luis Suarez did for Liverpool last season.
Aguero is exactly the same - a talismanic figure who will also top 30 goals - it's just he does all this without bringing any embarrassment on his club. Suarez will always be tainted by his biting and racism controversies however many goals he scores.
He's Suarez minus the madness and his all-round contribution needs to be appreciated.