Southampton v Man City Betting Tips: Can City stem the tide?
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Betting preview and odds for Premier League clash
Manchester City must beat Southampton this afternoon or face the possibility of falling further behind runaway league leaders Liverpool.
The Citizens are currently enduring one of their worst spells under Pep Guardiola, following back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Leicester City over Christmas.
Can they stem the tide on the South Coast? Or will Ralph Hassenhutl’s rejuvenated Saints inflict more woe on the visitors? Find out from 2:15pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
Head-to-Head
This is a fixture City have dominated in recent years. The Sky Blues have won each of their last four matches against Southampton, putting six past them when the sides last met in November.
Guardiola’s men have also kept clean sheets in their two most recent visits to St Mary’s – during which time the Saints have gone through five permanent managers. Not since Ronald Koeman’s side netted four at home to City in 2016 have the visitors been breached on the South Coast.
Likely XIs
A demanding festive fixture list could mean changes for both sides. City will definitely be without Fabian Delph after his sending off on Boxing Day.
That could mean Aymeric Laporte switching to left-back, with Nicolas Otamendi filling the void alongside John Stones at centre-half. Guardiola’s glut of attacking talent could also bring recalls for David Silva and Riyad Mahrez.
The Saints have tended to set-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Hassenhutl, and that’s not likely to change here.
Danny Ings has been in good form and will remain the focal point up-front, with Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong supporting in behind. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg can expect a recall in place of Mario Lemina after serving a suspension against West Ham United.
Key Battles
This match all comes down to whether Southampton can cope with City’s attacking talents. Under Hassenhutl they have a decent chance.
The Saints have shown a tendency to press higher up the pitch under the Austrian, and if that continues here, then the low-on-confidence visitors could be forced into mistakes.
If they can see out the press, however, then Silva and Kevin de Bruyne present the obvious dangers in midfield. The latter is still getting back into a rhythm after injury and looks better and better with every match.
City’s wide players caused Southampton no end of problems in November, and will look to do so again here.
Match Odds
City remain the 3/10 favourites in spite of their poor recent form. Southampton are available at 9/1, with a first draw in five meetings between the pair at 21/5.
Argentine ace Sergio Aguero has netted four career goals against the Saints and is 4/5 to add to that tally. He’s 14/5 to strike first in the contest, with Raheem Sterling rated a 4/1 chance in the same market. Ings carries the hosts’ best chance of finding the net – he’s 23/10 Anytime.
And with goals looking likely, the Coral traders go 20/23 about Both Teams to Score and 9/5 about City to Win and Both Teams to Score.
Click here for the latest Southampton v Manchester City odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
