Man City vs Southampton

Pep Guardiola's side return to Premier League action on Saturday and they are the only team in the division who remain unbeaten from the opening eight matches ...

Manchester City will entertain Southampton at the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday (October 8).

- City are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League this season. They are winless in their away games since 2004. Southampton have lost three games in a row, and this trip to Manchester will be a tough test for them. City have dominated proceedings against the visitors, winning 39 times. They scored first in their previous league game against Everton, with Joe Aribo scoring in the 49th minute. Fixtures are coming thick and fast for the hosts.

Here's the XI Guardiola may deploy to extend his stellar record in the shadows. 1. ...

The relationship between the pair has come a long way since its frosty beginning but Guardiola hasn't been able to iron out that particular kink just yet. CM: Rodri - When City were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw on Southampton's last visit to the Etihad Rodri was absent, a fact which Guardiola lamented post-game as his side "were not comfortable in our buildup". Pep Guardiola's side aren't often ushered into the UK television blackout slot of 3pm.

Manchester City will be looking to at least temporarily climb to the top of the Premier League table when they host Southampton this weekend.Pep Guard.

- Man City’s 29 goals after eight games is the joint-most at this stage of a Premier League campaign, level with their own record from 2017-18. Overall, they’ve kept two clean sheets in their last 28 on the road, with one of those a goalless draw against Man City at the Etihad last season. - Southampton have conceded the first goal in a league-high six different Premier League games this season. - Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne has eight assists in eight Premier League games this season, as many as he got in 30 appearances last season. - Man City’s Erling Haaland is averaging a goal once every 48 minutes in the Premier League so far, the best rate of anyone to score more than once in the competition’s history. It’s just one goal fewer than the Citizens’ top league scorer netted last season (Kevin De Bruyne, 15).

Pep Guardiola's side look in irresistable form right now and a win against Southampton will take them top of the Premier League - for 24 hours, at least.

But it's difficult to see him not scoring against a Southampton side devoid of confidence after a run of bad results. ( 18+, new customers only, T&C’s) It hasn't taken the bookmakers long to effectively pull up the shutters when it comes to pricing up Haaland goals in a game. Saints would be 20/1 stunners should they cause a shock. Erling Haaland has already banged in 20 goals for City, 14 of which have come in the Premier League. The world's most in-form striker will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a defence that hasn't kept a clean sheet this season.

City come into the tie brimming with confidence, having grabbed 11 goals in each of our last two home matches. We remain unbeaten in the Premier League this ...

[Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden)’s hat-trick at home to Manchester United last weekend earned the England star his career-high 19 points in Fantasy, extending his recent run of returns. James Ward-Prowse (£6.4m) is the visitors’ dangerman, having scored in two of his last three visits to the Etihad Stadium. [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden) (£8.1m) can deliver another big return at home to Southampton in Gameweek 10 of Fantasy Premier League. West Ham United’s Bowen hosts Fulham on the back of a goal, assist and 14-point haul in his previous home match. [Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola)'s men will take nothing for granted ahead of Saturday's showdown, and with a Champions League trip to Copenhagen also on the horizon, FPL managers have been left with some potentially difficult selection dilemmas. [Pep Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola)'s men welcome the Saints to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 8 October, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 (UK).