Southampton make the mid-week trip up to Manchester to take on league leader Manchester City in what is sure to be the biggest test of Pellegrino’s tenure so far.
The Saints go into this game after a confidence-boosting 4-1 hammering of Everton in front of the home crowd. With the performance impressing just as much as the result itself. Having scored four goals in a home game for the first time since the final game under Ronald Koeman against Crystal Palace.
With the likes of Hojbjerg, Austin and Ward-Prowse impressing at the weekend. Pellegrino has some selection headaches ahead of him, a good position to be in. With Romeu, Lemina & Gabbiadini looking to earn their places back in the starting XI.
Pellegrino’s opposite number and apparent good friend though, Pep Guardiola, has these kinds of headaches on a daily basis. The wealth of talent at his disposal is something Southampton and it’s fans can only dream of. The likes of Jesus, Aguero, De Bruyne and Sterling all finding the back of the net on a regular basis.
Manchester City are unbeaten in the league this season, the only points dropped coming against Southampton’s last opponents Everton. Even then, the draw was marred by a questionable sending off for Kyle Walker.
They are also going strong in the Champions League. Finding themselves top of their group and into the knockout stage.
That being said, they struggled to get past a poor Huddersfield side. A narrow 2-1 win through a lucky Sterling goal saved their blushes at the Yorkshire club. Huddersfield sat back and soaked up an immense amount of pressure, scoring via a set piece. But ultimately succumbing to a far superior squad.
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Why Man City will win
Arguably the best team in the country, even the world at the moment. Playing scintillating football with some of the worlds best players in their team. Led by arguably the best coach in the world, they are taking the league by storm this season. Destroying teams such as Watford and Stoke as though they were school teams.
The firepower Manchester City possess more than makes up for their occasional lapses in concentration in defence.
It takes one of their front five to be firing to change a game and win it for Manchester’s blue side, it will take a monumental effort from any team to prevent that from happening.
Why Southampton will win
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Southampton will come into this game knowing of the performance they are capable of. The fans and players know that they can perform even better than they did against Everton.
The Saints can look to take some ideas from the Huddersfield performance who managed to soak up the pressure and go ahead via a corner.
In the form of James Ward-Prowse and Ryan Bertrand they have players capable of causing havoc from set-pieces. Couple that with the likes of Hoedt, Van Dijk and the in-form Austin, you have the recipe for a game plan. City may also rest Company who struggles with two games a week, and John Stones out with a long term injury.
It will surely be a back-to-the-wall job for Southampton but Pellegrino can take confidence from the win at the weekend and the availability of midfield dynamo Mario Lemina for this midweek game.
Predicted Line Ups
Southampton:
Fraser Forster
Cedric, Wesley Hoedt, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Bertrand
Oriol Romeu, Mario Lemina
James Ward-Prowse, Dusan Tadic, Nathan Redmond
Manolo Gabbiadini
Manchester City
Ederson
Kyle Walker, Eliaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph
Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane
Gabriel Jesus
Next: Three replacements for Fraser Forster
Verdict
For Southampton to get anything out of this game is hard to see for even the most optimistic Southampton fans. For me, the performance is more important than the result. A bit of fight, effort and passion is all we require. Anything more than that is a bonus.
Manchester City are capable of blowing teams away, despite the win at the weekend I don’t think Southampton are in the kind of form they need to be in to trouble Pep’s side. Can’t see anything but a home win here.