Manchester City vs Southampton 02/11/19

2 November 2019

Manchester City will be looking to replicate their midweek’s performance that saw them clinch a 3-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup when the two sides face-off in the Premier League (PL) at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

The perennial champions have returned to winning ways following a shock 2-0 home loss to Wolverhampton, winning both of their last PL fixtures by scoring 2+ match goals apiece and keeping clean sheets. Except for the above loss to Wolves, the hosts have scored at least two goals in all four of their remaining four PL home matches (W3, D1), with each of those three wins being accompanied by a blank sheet. Seven victories in their last eight PL home H2Hs with Southampton (D1) can encourage City in their efforts to chase down Liverpool at the top. A clean sheet, however, might not be on the menu, as the Citizens failed to prevent Southampton from scoring in 12 of 13 of their previous competitive H2Hs here.

Meanwhile, after equaling the heaviest defeat in the history of the PL (9-0 to Leicester at home), the visitors have found themselves pushed down to the relegation zone. Winless in their last five PL outings (D1, L4), the Saints have gone down by a multiple-goal margin three times in that sequence. What’s more, they have already shipped 25 PL goals – more than any other side in England’s top-flight, keeping a clean sheet in just two of ten league fixtures so far. Interestingly, seven of Southampton’s eight total PL points have come away from home (W2, D1, L2), with three of those matches featuring under 2.5 goals.