Man City vs. Southampton Betting Tips: Featuring Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden

Manchester City, fuelled by the coruscating performances of Erling Haaland, can storm to the top of the Premier League if they avoid defeat at home to a stuttering Southampton side on Saturday afternoon (3pm). BettingOdds.com has previewed the duel and plucked out three tips below…

11 matches unbeaten, nine wins, and a stonking 40 goals scored. It’s been a superb start to the season for Man City, who now go hunting for their sixth successive win, while that man - yes, you Erling Haaland - has 19 goals on the board already, 14 of which have been scored in the Premier League. Just ridiculous.

With league leaders Arsenal not in action until Sunday when they face Liverpool, Man City have the chance to leapfrog the Londoners at the summit for 24 hours at least. The Citizens are as short as 1/12 to claim the three points this weekend while the Haaland express is all of 1/3 to find the back of the net (again) as he bids to wrap up the Premier League Top Goalscorer award before the break for the World Cup.

Southampton are out at 22/1 to become the first club to defeat Pep Guardiola’s side this season. Their manager is under pressure, their form is poor, and they are struggling for goals, however if there’s one glimmer of hope it’s the fact that they did frustrate City, not once but twice, in the league last season; registering a 0-0 draw at the Etihad, in which the hosts had only one shot on target; then they drew 1-1 down on the south coast. Another point this time may be harder to come by, at 10/1.

Given the simply outrageous goalscoring form of Erling Haaland, it won’t come as too much of a surprise to learn that bookmakers have cottoned on somewhat. The Norwegian is priced at 1/3 to just score on Saturday, 15/8 to break the deadlock, 6/4 to score two or more, and 5/1 to bag his fourth hat-trick of his Man City career…he only played his first game in August.

It’s got to the point where bookies’ are offering odds on when he will score, which brings me to Paddy Power’s boosted 9/2 from 7/2 for Haaland to find the back of the net before minute 19:59, a bet which landed in the week against Copenhagen, plus in recent wins against Wolves and Nottingham Forest.

While in the past they have been capable of pulling out a shock result when the chips are down, you really do fear for the Saints at the Etihad, a venue where Man City have scored an eye-popping 27 goals in all of six games this season, firing in four or more on five occasions.

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden have been hogging the headlines in recent weeks, but one player who has quietly gone about his business is the unsung Jack Grealish. His performances have been integral in allowing his teammates to sparkle this season, but I’m backing the man himself to get on the scoresheet at an appealing 7/2, a big price when compared to his fellow attackers.

Grealish has only scored once so far this season, in the recent 3-0 win at Wolves, however his statistics just don’t show how influential he’s been this term: supplementing his teammates in the build-up to goals, tormenting defenders, and creating space. "I know I can still go up two or three levels," he said, and the winger will certainly fancy his chances of at least doubling that goal scoring tally against a Southampton side that have one clean sheet in 20 Premier League games dating back to February, and none this season.

For the long shot we have a 28/1 Bet Builder from bet365, which needs Phil Foden to score anytime, James Ward-Prowse to be carded, and over 4 goals in the match.

Phil Foden, rested midweek, thumped in a hat-trick last weekend against Man Utd, meaning he’s now scored five goals in his last three games, while he netted in the 4-1 victory over the Saints back in March in the FA Cup.

James Ward-Prowse could be in for a long afternoon in the Southampton midfield. The Saints skipper has seen yellow in two of his last four matches and looks overpriced at 5/1 to be carded on Saturday.

Goals are always on the cards when Man City play, with their six home games so far this season featuring 33 goals for both teams. Over four goals has come in four times, including the 6-3 win over United last Sunday and the mid-week 5-0 victory against Copenhagen.