Manchester City vs Southampton preview

Saturday November 28, 2015 15:00pm – Etihad Stadium

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Manchester City: LDWDW

Southampton: LWWDD

Faltering Manchester City will attempt to get their title push back on track on Saturday when they go head-to-head with a Southampton side that lost for the first time in six matches last weekend.

Pellegrini no stranger to pressure

With just one win in the last four games, City boss Manuel Pellegrini is once again feeling the pressure – a situation that the former Real Madrid boss has grown accustomed to over the past few years. After drawing away to the league worst team Aston Villa, the Citizens then crumbled 1-4 at home to a rampant Liverpool side who were unlucky to only score four goals.

As a result, of those recent slip ups, the Manchester side have fallen to third place in the table behind their city rivals and Claudio Ranieri’s script-tearing team from Leicester.

David Silva, Wilfried Bony and Vincent Kompany could all return for City, while Pablo Zabaleta, Eliaquim Mangala and Samir Nasri are all out injured.

Saints’ beaten for first time since September

Ronald Koeman’s men were beaten at home by Stoke City last week – a result that ended their six-game unbeaten run. It was the third home defeat of the season for the Saints who have yet to lose on the road, having won two and drawn four of their away games this term. However, this will be the first time that they have travelled to a club currently above them in the league.

Southampton are still without the injured group of Jay Rodriguez, Florin Gardos and Fraser Forster.

Prediction

Manchester City will need to up their game if they are to get their league campaign back on track. Their lack of pace in midfield was exposed by Liverpool and they can expect similar pressure in that area from the Saints. The team from the South of England have yet to lose away from home and could ask further questions of City this weekend.

However, City could have Kompany and Silva back in the team while Southampton are playing a top eight side away from home for the first time. Back City to edge this one at 8/15 with Bet365.