It wasn’t the most impressive of performances at the weekend, but Manchester City kept their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town. More impressive was the way in which Southampton disposed of Everton 4-1 at home but they face a much harder task when travelling to the Etihad.
Manchester City had to come from a goal down to get the 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town on Sunday. It was a rather fortunate Raheem Sterling goal that gave them their win, but it gave City their tenth straight league win since a 1-1 home draw with Everton.
They have scored 42 league goals this season and their plus 34 goal difference is as good as another point. Six home league games have produced five wins and a draw with 24 goals netted and just four conceded. They are unbeaten in their last 18 home Premier League games, last losing almost a year ago on December 3, 2016 to Chelsea. It’s seven months since they last lost a game in England and that was an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.
Their summer spending sprees don’t always pay off, but it’s been a big success this time around. A lot is written about their great attack, but the defensive signings made by Pep Guardiola have added plenty more strength to their squad. After this game they host West Ham at the weekend before the big showdown at Old Trafford on December 10, where a win would be a mighty step towards winning the Premier League title.
Southampton moved up to tenth in the Premier League after their 4-1 home win over Everton on Sunday. It wasn’t just the relief of getting three points ending a run of three league games without a victory, but the fact they scored four goals. They’d played 26 home league games since scoring four at home against Crystal Palace on May 15, 2016. A fortnight before that, they also scored four in a home match against a certain Manchester City.
The Saints had only managed one point from their last four league games before the second-half demolition of lowly Everton. They still only have 13 goals in 13 league games and seven of those have come in the home wins over West Ham United and Everton. Eight of their 13 league games have been at home and on their travels, they have just the one away win earned at Crystal Palace. The other four games have resulted in two defeats and two draws with only three goals scored on their travels.
Playing Charlie Austin from the start on Sunday worked wonders with the striker scoring twice. It’s a lot to ask for him to do that again at the Etithad but if he can strike form then It might save Southampton a few million in the next transfer window. Southampton aren’t out of the woods re relegation trouble though and this game marks the start of a run of five away games of which four are against sides in the top five.
Conclusion
Manchester City have turned the Etihad into a fortress with an unbeaten run of 25 home league and cup games. They didn’t have it all their own way at Huddersfield Town at the weekend but still ran out winners in the end. Home form and the immensely strong squad that they have makes them overwhelming favourites for this game against Southampton. Even with another game at the weekend they could easily afford to rest Aguero and still play Jesus from the start.
Southampton showed massive improvement against Everton at the weekend but were greatly helped by the defensive incompetence of their opponents. They won’t be facing a defence like that at the Etihad that is for sure. City can be backed on a -1 handicap to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Stoke City – LDDWL
Liverpool – DWWWL
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
15/04/17 – Southampton 0 Manchester City 3
23/10/16 – Manchester City 1 Southampton 1
01/05/16 – Southampton 4 Manchester City 2
28/11/15 – Manchester City 3 Southampton 1
24/05/15 – Manchester City 2 Southampton 0
- Manchester City have only lost one of their last eight games against Southampton.
- Manchester City have scored in their last 12 league and cup matches against the Saints.
- Southampton last beat Manchester City away from home in 2004 but haven’t won any of the last seven league and cup visits.
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 18 home Premier League games.
- Southampton have only won two of their last eight Premier League games.
- The last two Southampton league games have both had over 2.5 goals scored in them.
- The last five Manchester City home league games have all been won by more than one clear goal with 23 scored and three conceded.