Manchester City continue to look unstoppable on their march towards a second straight Premier League title. The Citizens might be tied with Liverpool at the top of the table with an 8-2-0 record, but they currently boast the top offense in the EPL (27 goals), the best defense (3 goals allowed), and they have already played some of their toughest foes at their home and walked away with a result. It’s eerily similar to what we saw from Manchester City last year, and Southampton knows that means they will find it hard to pick up a result.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, November 4, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Southampton +1908
Manchester City -833
Draw +861
Over/Under 3.5 and 4
Odds Analysis
The Saints have not had a great start to the season. Southampton have flirted with a spot in European play and top half of the table finishes have not been uncommon since they returned to the Premier League, but for now they are just looking to stay afloat. They are currently in 16th place with a 1-4-5 record and the Saints are just two points ahead of both Cardiff City and Fulham. Southampton’s lone win came on the road against Crystal Palace, and their last two matches ended in scoreless draws.
Manchester City’s last two road games have been at Anfield and Wembley, and they know how important picking up results in both places was for their chances of repeating. The Citizens played a relatively listless match against Liverpool earlier in the month, leaving with a 0-0 draw in a frustrating game for the Reds. Last week, they had another tough match against Tottenham, but they scored a nice win. Riyad Mahrez’s tap-in finish was the lone goal in the game, as Manchester City survived although Tottenham had some good chances.
Key Injuries
Coming into this match, Southampton are largely healthy. The only two names on the injury report are Charlie Austin and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Both players are listed as probable, with Hojbjerg currently under the weather because of an illness and Austin overcoming a shoulder issue.
Things aren’t so rosy on the side of Manchester City. The Citizens may have lost star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne for a long spell once again, as he picked up a new knee injury in the club’s Carabao Cup over Fulham. He will undergo tests on Friday, but he is very unlikely to play here even if the tests come back negative. Long-term injuries Claudio Bravo and Eliaquim Mangala continue to rest and rehab, while Ilkay Gundogan is close to returning.
Matchup to Watch
Southampton have posted two straight clean sheets ahead of this match, but they know they have a long day ahead of them if they have any chance of making it three in a row. Manchester City have a dizzying array of weapons that all complement one another in Pep Guardiola’s scheme, and even without de Bruyne, Mahrez has shown he can fill in quite nicely. The midfield is fantastic at picking out holes, and they will look to do so once more.
Prop Bet of the Game – Manchester City halftime and fulltime -222
I don’t typically like to lay a lot of chalk when I make these prop plays, but in this case I’ll make an exception. Manchester City have a quick strike capability that every other team lacks, and they like to put games away early. The Saints don’t have a lot of offensive weapons, especially with Austin dinged up, so if the Citizens can net in the first half, this one becomes a heavy favorite.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Manchester City are just a cut above almost every other team in the Premier League. They are so loaded with talent and can attack in so many ways, they are nearly impossible to stop.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester City 4, Southampton 1
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