Previewing the Match on Sunday
Manchester City are coming into this game in good form, with the best defence in the Premier League, being the highest scorers and being sat at the top of the League Table. This game comes a matter of days before the important home game against Shaktar Dontesk in the Champions League and I expect Pep Guardiola will have one eye on that competition when selecting his team.
City will be coming into this match having played 3 matches in the last 7 days, and although much of the squad was rotated in the last game against Fulham, I suspect Guardiola will rotate again to try and keep his team fresh.
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Southampton however are in an altogether different position under Mark Hughes. It is over 900 days since they last won a game against any of the Top 6 Clubs and currently sit 16th in the Premier League on 6 points. They have not won a league game since their victory at Crystal Palace on 1 September. In their last 6 matches they have drawn 3 and lost 3.
Worryingly for Southampton fans their run of poor form under Hughes sees them sitting with a negative goal difference of -8. In a relegation battle the goal difference figure is likely to be of prime importance.
Given that, I expect Southampton will try and set their stall out to limit Manchester City and to keep the score down as low as possible. This will be a game of damage limitation as much as anything so we may well see Southampton sit with 10 men behind the ball, hoping to hit us with a set piece and nick a result.
Last year Mark Hughes was Manager at Stoke when they attempted to go toe to toe at the Etihad and were destroyed 7-2. That memory will likely be fresh in his mind and may also firm up a defensive masterplan. Recently at the Etihad we have seen teams try and play rather than just sit back, but Sunday’s match will be like last season.
Given City will be looking to break down a packed defence, Guardiola probably has at least two variations available to his set up and selection. He could attempt to over run the midfield by deploying all central midfielders, or he could exploit the wings and attempt to create an overload through the defensive lines.
Hopefully, City fans will not have to wait until the 97th minute for Sterling to score a late winner against Southampton as happened last season.
The further injury to Kevin De Bruyne will restrict his options but this is a game City should not just win, but should win easily. But to do this they will need to be on top form. With players seeking to earn their spaces at Shaktar and Mancjester United, this should not be a game of low intensity.
My predicted XI
4-3-3 Formation
Goalkeeper
Ederson
Defence
Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy
Midfield
Fernandinho, David Silva, Bernardo
Attack
Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez