Manchester City face a visit from Ronald Koeman’s impressive Southampton side.
Both sides are in similar form having each taken 11 points each from their last six games. Both teams also suffered defeat last week as Stoke beat the Saints, while City were brushed aside by Liverpool.
The weekend’s fixture will see both these teams battle it out for the three points in their bids to get back to winning ways.
Key Battle – Nicolas Otamendi vs Shane Long
It will be a battle between two individuals who will, for different reasons, want to put in good performances.
Otamendi has started off well at his new club but has been prone to a few mistakes now and then. He especially had a torrid time in City’s last outing against Juventus, where he struggled to cope with the Italian club’s attacking threat. With Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis also struggling to find form, City will rely on the Argentine to strengthen up the defence. Vincent Kompany is assumed to be ruled out for the fixture which adds more pressure on Otamendi to perform against the likes of Shane Long and co.
Fresh off the back of securing a Euro 2016 berth with Ireland, Long will be keen to impress for his side. The 28-year-old has not cemented a place in the Southampton starting XI yet but a suspension to first choice striker Graziano Pelle means that the Irishman will be the preferred striker to start at the Etihad. A good performance against a shaky City defence might just prove to be the catalyst for Long to put in a good run of performances.
Team News
City have quite a few injury concerns. Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Kompany are set to miss the game through injury, while Joe Hart, David Silva, Pablo Zabaleta and Mangala are doubtful to start the game.
Manchester City Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Hart (GK); Sagna, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure; Navas, De Bruyne, Sterling; Aguero.
Fraser Forster, Florin Gardos, and Jay Rodriguez are all long-term absentees for Southampton. Pelle is suspended after reaching five yellow cards this season and will serve his one-game ban.
Southampton Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Steklenburg (GK); Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie, Wanyama; Mane, Davis, Tadic; Long.
Head-to-Head
Southampton have the upper hand over City since the two sides first met in 1910, winning 30, drawing 24 and City winning the other 28 of the 82 fixtures. City have won six of the last 10, however, with the Saints only winning twice during that period.
Previous Meeting
The two sides last met on the last day of the 2014-15 season, with City claiming all three points in a 2-0 win at the Etihad thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Frank Lampard.
Prediction
The Premier League’s unpredictability level has reached new heights and it is now becoming extremely difficult to predict results. Both sides are in similar form and a draw would seem the most likely outcome, but you can always expect the unexpected in the Premier League.
Manchester City 1 Southampton 1
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