Man City cannot afford to slip up against struggling Southampton
Manchester City know they cannot afford to come away with anything other than all three points when they take on Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday evening. Understandably, the Citizens are the red hot favourites to win the game and you can use an online casino with Paypal to back Pep Guardiola’s side to see-off the Saints on the South Coast this weekend.
City have been in formidable form once again this season and the addition of a 35+ goal striker in Erling Haaland has made them even more potent in attack – if that was even possible. With Liverpool enduring a nightmare campaign, you’d have assumed City would be running away with the title this season. However, nobody could have predicted the season Arsenal are having and Man City now find themselves in an unexpected battle with the North Londoners.
A 4-1 win over old-foes Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium ensured City held onto the coat tails of Arsenal but they still head into the weekend action sitting eight points adrift of the league leaders. Man City do hold a game in hand and play host to the Gunners in a few weeks’ time, so all it takes is one slip up from Arsenal to put things back in City’s hands.
However, Guardiola knows his side cannot afford any slip-ups and they especially can’t drop points away to the club sitting bottom of the table. Southampton slumped to their 18th defeat of the season with a 1-0 loss at West Ham last time out. It’s left them sitting bottom of the table but the good news is things are extremely tight in the relegation zone. Just seven points separates the bottom nine clubs and with nine games remaining, it’s still all to play for.
Banker
If the bookmaker odds are anything to go by, then this should be an away ‘banker’. Manchester City are huge 1/5 odds-on favourites to win at St Mary’s on Saturday. The hosts are 11/1 while the draw is available at odds of 5/1.
So on the face of it, City are expected to claim a comfortable win this weekend which would then put the pressure firmly on Arsenal ahead of their tricky trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Haaland return
City are also expected to receive a welcome boost with Haaland set to return to the squad this weekend. The Norwegian international missed the win over Liverpool last week due to a groin injury that he picked up during the international break. However, he’s returned to training and should be fit to start against Southampton.
Whether Guardiola brings him straight back into the side is another question, as Alvarez did superbly well up front against Liverpool. However, it will be tough for the City boss to leave a striker who’s scored 42 goals in all competitions on the bench.
However, City will have to make do without Phil Foden as he’s still recovering from surgery after having his appendix removed last week.
Manchester City won’t want to take anything for granted, as it’s worth remembering Southampton held Arsenal to a draw at home earlier in the season. However, City are hitting their best form at the right time of the season and they should ease to victory on Sunday.
Southampton 0-2 Man City
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