Manchester City don’t do things the easy way this season. After conceding in the opening minutes against the Wolves and scoring a dramatic winner in the closing minutes, Pep Guardiola’s men continue to take us on a rollercoaster ride — while showing the spirit of champions.
John Stones popped up with a stoppage-time goal to seal a 2-1 win at Molineux last weekend, just as he did when he rescued a draw at home to 10-man Arsenal last month. There was also a nervy 3-2 win over Fulham and a 2-1 win over Brentford — who scored in the first 60 seconds — in September.
This is not the same City side that has blown teams away with ease in recent seasons under Guardiola, but they are still finding a way to win games – even without key players like Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne. It will be a tough fight to keep hold of their Premier League crown amid a stern challenge from Liverpool and Arsenal, who play each other this weekend.
It has been a different story in the Champions League, and City were certainly more comfortable against Sparta Prague this week, hammering them 5-0. They’ll hope that continues against struggling Southampton — the newly-promoted side still seeking their first win back in the Premier League.
The Etihad is probably the worst place to go when looking to end a rotten run of seven losses from eight games, but manager Russell Martin will happily lose the battle in Manchester if it means he can win the war. Southampton have some crucial clashes against relegation rivals coming up. Next month begins with games against Everton and Wolves and if Saints are still winless by the end of those games, they could be marching back to the Championship sooner rather than later.
How agonising for Martin’s side that they came so close to sealing their first victory in a manner that sums up their season. They went 2-0 up against Leicester City before the Foxes completed a stunning turnaround, with Jordan Ayew netting a dramatic winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time to win 3-2.
That’s 18 goals conceded in the league so far, the second-highest, as they come up against the top scorers in the division on Saturday. City have Erling Haaland in hot form after netting two superbly-taken goals against Prague.
In addition to long-term absentees Oscar Bobb and Rodri, Guardiola has a number of injuries to sweat over. Kyle Walker is not yet ready to return, nor is de Bruyne. Meanwhile, wingers Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish missed the Sparta Prague game and aren’t fit for the Saints either. That means the Spaniard’s squad depth will be tested to its maximum, handing a glimmer of hope to the away team.
For Southampton, Gavin Bazunu and Ross Stewart remain out. Jack Stephens returns from a two-match suspension, but Ryan Fraser will miss this one after his red card against Leicester. Will Smallbone is set to be out until next month, while defender Yukinari Sugawara is a doubt after a knock against the Foxes.
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Manchester City vs Southampton odds
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Time: 3 p.m. BST (10 a.m. ET), Saturday
Form guide (league only)
Manchester City: 6-2-0, 20 points (2nd); W-W-D-D-W
Southampton: 0-1-7, 1 point (19th); L-L-L-D-L
Match prediction
Manchester City 3-0 Southampton
All the stats and logic points to a heavy defeat for the Saints at the Etihad. It will be a tall order for Martin’s men to get anything as they travel up north for this one — even with City missing a host of key men. They will be huge underdogs, and their best bet is to keep things rigid, attack on the counter and frustrate City — who have shown vulnerabilities this season.
However, Guardiola’s men have a habit of pulling it out of the bag no matter what, and you would expect they’ll do so again.
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(Photo of Phil Foden: Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images)