Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Man Cityvs.Southampton

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 October 2024, 17:00
Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has suggested that Southampton are lacking a "killer" striker such as former Citizens prodigy Liam Delap amidst their difficult start to life back in the Premier League.

The Saints are one of four top-flight teams who are yet to celebrate a victory in any of their opening eight matches this season, picking up just one point and losing seven games, including each of their last three.

Pressure is beginning to mount on head coach Russell Martin, who was denied his first Premier League win of the season by a brilliant second-half revival from Leicester City last weekend, with the Foxes coming from two goals down to win 3-2 at St Mary's, netting a dramatic 98th-minute winner to snatch maximum points.

Southampton have found the net in each of their last four Premier League games, but only Crystal Palace (five) have scored fewer goals so far this season than the Saints (six), who sit 19th in the table and are now gearing up for a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium to face reigning champions Man City on Saturday.

Attackers Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Diaz were both signed by Southampton in the summer and while the former has chipped in with two Premier League goals - including one last weekend - the latter is yet to find the net for the Saints.

Southampton could do with "killer" striker Delap

Martin's side were also credited with an interest in 21-year-old striker Delap over the summer, with reports claiming that Southampton had a bid accepted by Man City.

However, fellow newly-promoted side Ipswich Town won the race for Delap's signature, signing him for an initial £15m plus £5m in add-ons, and he has since scored four goals in eight Premier League games for the Tractor Boys.

While McInerney has backed Southampton to score against a leaky Man City defence that have kept just one clean sheet in eight league matches this term, he also feels that the Saints are not blessed with a striker of Delap's calibre who could turn their fortunes around.

Speaking to Sports Mole, McInerney said: "I wouldn't be surprised if they score. Southampton have been scoring, they've got the odd goal, six in total so far, so it's not like they've scored none.

"They've not been truly atrocious at chance creation, it's just they haven't got maybe what Ipswich have got in Liam Delap. They haven't got a killer up front.

"[Cameron] Archer is a good player, [Taylor] Harwood-Bellis is an ex-City lad, [Aaron] Ramsdale is a good keeper, [Kyle] Walker-Peters has Premier League experience.

"They've got some good players, it's just a big ask for them [against City] and I would be amazed if they come to the Etihad expecting to get anything from this game."

McInerney not expecting Man City to stroll past Southampton

McInerney is not expecting Man City to cruise to victory on Saturday, though, adding: "I do think City will win, but I just don't feel it's going to be a stroll.

"Even if City win 3-1 or 4-1, I expect it'll be a little bit closer because that formula (in City's midfield) is still a little bit loose... If [Kevin] De Bruyne is back and available and if [Phil] Foden starts to find his form, we should be more than okay."

"The fixtures are reasonably favourable for City right now," McInerney continued. "This is the kind of game where [they need to] keep applying that pressure and win and hope that Arsenal and Liverpool drop some points. If both of them do, all of a sudden - despite City [potentially] not playing well - we'll be top of the table and still unbeaten."

Man City will be confident of success on Saturday as they have come out on top in 10 of their last 13 Premier League meetings with Southampton, who have not won at the Etihad since a 3-1 victory in April 2004.

Pep Guardiola's men - who cruised to a 5-0 win over Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday - currently sit second in the Premier League table and just one point behind leaders Liverpool, who travel to the Emirates Stadium to face third-placed Arsenal on Sunday.

Show more

Top News

13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reported to be the leading candidate to sign Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane ahead of Arsenal upon the expiry of his contract in the summer. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo was bursting with pride after his eldest son made his Portugal Under-15 debut. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Italian football stadiums are known for their atmosphere-killing running tracks, but one 'English-style' arena is so close to the pitch that it needs a moat. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should give no consideration to playing Declan Rice again this season even if he can recover quickly from a suspected hamstring injury, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Jack Grealish will reportedly seek assurances from manager Pep Guardiola over his future at Manchester City ahead of the summer transfer window. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Blackburn Rovers Women have been informed via WhatsApp that their owners aren't set to financially support them next season. 13 May 2025 talksport.com With a bumper weekend of Premier League action and the FA Cup final coming up, talkSPORT has you covered with the latest. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly contemplating whether to launch another raid on Chelsea during the summer transfer window. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After beating Real Madrid in El Clasico, La Liga leaders Barcelona are now preparing to face local rivals Espanyol in Thursday's clash at the RCDE Stadium. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Shaun Wright-Phillips was set to follow in his father's footsteps to join Arsenal - only for Chelsea to sneak in and sign him. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Ollie Watkins is not good enough to fire Arsenal to major honours. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich have reportedly emerged as the frontrunners to sign in-demand defender Jonathan Tah this summer. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must be wary of the threat posed by Arsenal ahead of next season's Premier League title defence, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to accept offers for Gabriel Martinelli in the summer transfer window. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Nottingham Forest insist there was no 'confrontation' between Evangelos Marinakis and Nuno Espirito Santo after their draw to Leicester. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Wrexham will be breaking new ground this summer as they spend pre-season Down Under. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are set to finally beat Chelsea to a key transfer target - even if this time, it appears to be a one-horse race. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Jason Cundy has ripped into Tottenham and claimed their season will not be a success even if they win the Europa League. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Aston Villa's final home Premier League game of the season will take place against Tottenham this Friday night, live on talkSPORT 2. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Manchester United will not enjoy an open-top bus parade even if they win the Europa League - with a barbecue on the menu instead. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has provided positive update on the future of in-demand starlet Jeremy Monga. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Martin Keown may be an Arsenal legend, but Gooners were quick to boo him on his Highbury return with Aston Villa. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will attempt to extend their three-game unbeaten run when they travel to El Sadar for Thursday's La Liga clash against Osasuna. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has delivered a fresh update on his future with the La Liga giants. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are closing in on Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement and fans are pleading with the club to get the deal done. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mikel Arteta likely "tore strips" into his Arsenal team at half time in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool to trigger their terrific turnaround in the second half, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly planning to beat Premier League rivals Manchester United to the signature of Viktor Gyokeres this summer. 13 May 2025 talksport.com A British record transfer bid is certainly a sign of admiration, but nothing compares to the love of your own supporters if you're Peter Ndlovu. 13 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers head coach Barry Ferguson will take charge of what is expected to be his final game at Ibrox when the Gers welcome Dundee United to Glasgow on Wednesday night. 13 May 2025 talksport.com Vladimir Coufal is keen to stick around in England despite his West Ham heartbreak.
Tomorrow at 18:00
ERD
PSV PSV
-
sch
Heracles Heracles