Manchester City have returned to the top of the Premier League but only on goal difference after a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton.

The result leaves them joint top with Arsenal and Liverpool on 20 points, with a goal difference of +11, compared to +10 and +9 for the Gunners and the Reds.

Southampton meanwhile are 8th after picking up the away point.

The Saints hit the front on 27 minutes after an error from England international defender John Stones, who arrived at City for £50 million during the summer.

His poor pass was exploited by the pacy Nathan Redmond and the Southampton player rounded Claudio Bravo before finishing to put Saints 1-0 up.

Stones thought he had made amends shortly afterwards.

A free-kick from the right side was converted by the defender at the far post.

But after celebrations had died down, it became clear that referee Mark Clattenburg had ruled it out because Sergio Aguero had attempted to get on the end of the cross having been in an offside position.

City did equalise 15 minutes after the break when an excellent diagonal pass to the left from Fernandinho found Leroy Sane.

The young German attacker then squared the ball for half-time substitute Kelechi Iheanacho to convert from close range.

City have not won a league game since late September's 3-1 victory at Swansea, which has since been followed by 2-0 loss at Tottenham and a 1-1 draw with Everton.

It is also a winless run of five games in all competitions including a Champions League draw at Celtic in a 3-3 thriller and Wednesday's 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Nou Camp.