Manchester City will attempt to temporarily rise to the top of Premier League tables when they host Southampton today.
Pep Guardiola’s side are just one point adrift of leaders Arsenal – who face Liverpool on Sunday – and are on an incredible run of form.
City’s winning streak in all competitions was extended to five games after a 5-0 defeat of Copenhagen in midweek’s Champions League.
After three consecutive defeats, they now face a struggling Southampton team. They are currently just one point above the relegation zone.
Man City vs Southampton: TalkSPORT coverage
The Premier League clash will be held on Saturday, October 8.
TalkSPORT 2 will be covering the Etihad game exclusively, with kickoff at 3pm.
Dan Windle will be your presenter. Chris Iwelumo, a former Scotland striker, will provide commentary.
Click to listen to talkSPORT2 or talkSPORT 3 via the internet. You can watch the live stream HERE. You can also listen to the TalkSPORT AppDAB digital radio via your smart speaker, and on 1089 AM or 1053 AM.
Man City vs Southampton: Team News
Through injury, John Stones of England trio Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker will be out for the hosts.
Rodri, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne will all be returning to the side after they were all unused replacements for Copenhagen.
Southampton remains without Valentino Ligermento and Romeo Lavia, an ex-Man City academy graduate, due to injury.
Yet as many as three of Guardiola’s former protegees could line up against him, with Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios and Sam Edozie all pushing to start.
Duje Caleta Car could also maintain his position ahead of Mohammed Salisu.
Man City vs Southampton: What’s the verdict?
Hasenhuttl said: “The message is a very, very clear one. We have had three very tight games – the last three we lost with one goal difference.
“Especially in the last one, we had a much higher chance of winning than the opponent but we didn’t do it and this is what we have to learn.
“We see that the progress is there but the Premier League is tough, we know this. We are moving there and you will see that we aren’t afraid to go to Man City.
“This face we want to see and we want to show a brave team. Finally, hopefully a successful one.”
Man City vs Southampton: Match facts
- Man City’s Erling Haaland is averaging a goal once every 48 minutes in the Premier League so far, the best rate of anyone to score more than once in the competition’s history. Meanwhile, he’s also found the net with 42% of his shots (14 goals, 33 shots), the best conversion rate of any player with at least 20 attempts (since 2003-04).
- Manchester City striker Erling HALAND has scored 14 goals in eight Premier League matches. He also netted a hat trick in each of his three previous Etihad appearances. It’s just one goal fewer than the Citizens’ top league scorer netted last season (Kevin De Bruyne, 15).
- Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne has eight assists in eight Premier League games this season, as many as he got in 30 appearances last season. He’s provided two assists in each of his last two Premier League games – the first player to do so since David Silva in August 2019 – and he could become the first player to ever do so in three consecutive games.
- Southampton has conceded the first goal in six Premier League games this season, a league record. On the two occasions Saints have scored first this term, they’ve gone on to lose (1-4 vs Tottenham, 1-2 vs Everton).
- Southampton haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 18 Premier League away games, both the longest current run and Saints’ longest ever run in the competition. Overall, they’ve kept two clean sheets in their last 28 on the road, with one of those a goalless draw against Man City at the Etihad last season.
- Man City’s 29 goals after eight games is the joint-most at this stage of a Premier League campaign, level with their own record from 2017-18. Overall, in the Premier League they’ve scored 6+ goals in 21 different matches – including twice this season – two more than any other side, despite not featuring in five seasons.
- Manchester City has won eight of their Premier League home matches, scoring at least three goals every time. Aston Villa, which scored 13 goals between September 1931 and December 1930, was the last top-flight team to win a longer streak of home victories while scoring more than three goals.
- Southampton has only won two of 45 away league matches against the reigning champions in their top flight history (D11L32), beating Leeds 3-1 on March 1970 and Chelsea by the exact same scoreline in October 2015.
- Southampton has only two points from 11 away games against Man City, after winning their April 2004 league visit to the Etihad (3-1).
- Man City has only lost one of their twelve Premier League games against Southampton (W8D3). Both their last meetings ended in draws.
