Man City vs Southampton prediction, stats, tips & team news: Back Haaland to Score a Header at The Etihad

Manchester City‘s Premier League title defence will see them host Southampton on the final weekend of October.
Pep Guardiola’s side are still unbeaten in the league this season and sit close to early leaders Liverpool. Southampton, meanwhile, Southampton are still chasing their first victory.
Man City to Win & Over 3.5 Goals (5/6 with BoyleSports)
Manchester City are on their longest-ever unbeaten league run, having gone 31 Premier League games without defeat since losing to Aston Villa last December. A comfortable victory looks likely on Saturday against a Southampton side that has lost three on the bounce and conceded three goals in all of those. Seven of City’s last eight league wins at the Etihad have featured four goals or more, and backing the hosts to win and over 3.5 goals to be scored is my main play of the afternoon.
Erling Haaland to Score a Header (11/2 with Paddy Power)
Southampton conceded most goals from set-pieces (8) and may struggle against the height of Manchester City on Saturday. Only Kai Havertz has recorded more headed shots in the league this season than Erling Haaland, who has managed ten in total. In his first season in England, the 24-year-old scored seven headers in the league and followed that up with four last season. He has yet to score via his swede this term, and with some bookmakers such as Bet365 having him priced at just 9/4 to manage one on Saturday, the 11/2 with Paddy Power looks like a generous price.
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How to watch Man City vs Southampton live
Man City vs Southampton is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday 26th October but will not be broadcast live in the UK.
How both teams go into Man City vs Southampton
Man City haven’t looked unbeatable, but they are the only team in the who are yet to taste defeat after eight games of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign. The Citizens have won six and drawn two so far, dropping points against Arsenal and Newcastle United.
The draw against Arsenal came at the Etihad, with a dramatic John Stones equaliser in injury time securing the point. It also kept Man City’s impressive home league run going, which was then extended with victory over Fulham. The Citizens are now unbeaten in their past 34 home matches in the Premier League. Brentford were the last team to beat Man City at the Etihad in the league, with a 2-1 win in December 2022.
Southampton won’t be fancied to end that streak. Saints have struggled since returning to the Premier League and are one of four winless teams. Russell Martin’s men have lost seven of their eight matches, with a draw against Ipswich Town bringing their only point. They haven’t been good on the road either. Southampton have lost all four of their away league matches this season.
Man City host Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 26th October at 3pm.
Man City team news
Man City are without several key players on Saturday, including Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku.
Southampton team news
Jack Stephens will finally be available after serving a five-match ban for a red card and using “abusive and insulting language” to officials. Will Smallbone, ross Stewart and Gavin Bazunu remain sidelined, while Ryan Fraser is suspended.
Man City vs Southampton head-to-head
Although Southampton did knock Man City out of the EFL Cup in 2022-23, Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their past six league games against Saints. Southampton haven’t won away from home against Man City since April 2004, when James Beattie and Kevin Phillips were on the scoresheet. Nicolas Anelka scored for Man City.
Man City vs Southampton H2H | |||||||
Date | Score | Ground | |||||
08/04/23 | Southampton 1-4 Man City | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
11/01/23 | Southampton 2-0 Man City | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
08/10/22 | Man City 4-0 Southampton | Etihad Stadium, Manchester | |||||
20/03/22 | Southampton 1-4 Man City | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
22/01/22 | Southampton 1-1 Man City | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
18/09/21 | Man City 0-0 Southampton | Etihad Stadium, Manchester |
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