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On paper, Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Southampton shouldn’t be much of a contest.

The Citizens boast arguably the greatest manager of his generation, Pep Guardiola, one of the most expensively-assembled squads in Europe and some of the Premier League’s biggest talents – not least including midfield playmakers Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, alongside star striker Sergio Aguero.

Compare that to a Saints outfit who’ve sold their key players for the last three summers, lost manager Ronald Koeman to Everton during the off-season and started the campaign by taking just two points from their first four Premier League games.

However, there are now just seven points separating the two clubs in the league table, with City in pole position and Southampton rocking up in eighth, and their coming meeting at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday could be a lot closer than most people think.

In fact, we at FootballFanCast are tipping Claude Puel’s boys to cause a shock upset this weekend.

CITY HAVE HIT A HURDLE

Manchester City’s recent results have proved the Pep appreciation in the opening weeks of the season, when the Eastlands outfit were carving up everything in their path, was abundantly premature.

Indeed, since back-to-back wins over Swansea City in the Premier League and League Cup, City have endured draws with Celtic and Everton and defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.

Of course, that’s by no means the end of the world for City or their title aspirations, but they are entering Sunday’s game out of form and amid a mini-crisis. Perhaps most tellingly of all, their four-game winless run has seen the Citizens concede ten goals.

SOUTHAMPTON ARE FLYING HIGH

Southampton, on the other hand, are amid a real purple patch.

Although they came up short at the San Siro against Inter Milan, despite playing incredibly well, the Saints haven’t suffered defeat domestically since the start of September – a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in which the Gunners scored two very dubious goals.

That includes three Premier League wins from their last four, keeping three clean sheets in the process. Likewise, striker Charlie Austin is in red hot form, netting seven times across all competitions this season – including a brace against Burnley last weekend.

WE NOW KNOW CITY’S WEAKNESSES

This time last month, City carried a real fear factor – some journalists even asking Pep Guardiola whether his side could become the first English team to complete a historic quadruple.

But a run of poor results has exposed their weaknesses, most particularly mistakes when pressured on the ball in their own defensive third.

Such a game-plan isn’t Southampton’s style in the same way as Tottenham, for example. Nonetheless, it gives Puel food for thought and a template to adapt his side around for Sunday’s game.

It’s almost as if the world now knows the Man City cheat codes – all Southampton have to do is tap them in.

West Ham United goalkeeper Darren Randolph says he might have to leave the club if he is to play regular first-team football.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 29-year-old is the Hammers’ second choice stopper behind Adrian, and it seems as though the Republic of Ireland No.1 may be getting a little frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities under Slaven Bilic.

However, after only making the move to the capital from Birmingham City in 2015, he isn’t quite ready to throw in the towel at the London Stadium just yet.

Speaking in Wednesday’s press conference (via the Daily Mail) before his nation’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Austria, Randolph said: “There’ll be a time when it does come – I don’t think anyone wants to just sit and not play.

“But for the time being, I’m going to stick at it.”

Does Randolph deserve to be number one?

It’s a difficult one. Adrian has been a brilliant servant for West Ham and continues to provide steady performances between the sticks, although it was his howler that gifted Stoke City a point in the capital on Saturday.

However, most times Randolph has filled in for the Spaniard he has impressed, and some Irons supporters may feel that he deserves the chance to cement his place as the club’s main stopper now.

What will happen next?

It all depends on Bilic. Will he stick with his No.1 who made a costly error against Stoke, or give Randolph an opportunity to establish himself at the club?

A positive performance against Austria could well make up his manager’s mind on what happens when the Irons travel to local rivals Tottenham after the international break.

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Jurgen Klopp has lots of work to do at Liverpool to turn them into title contenders. Despite excellent progress so far under the German manager, the Reds are still slightly off the pace being set by the league leaders.

That makes the next two transfer windows extra important for the Anfield side. Recruiting well could be the difference between silverware and languishing well behind.

Klopp will have plenty of money to spend in both January and the summer, but the market has never been more competitive though and Liverpool have to make every penny count.

That’s why picking up talented footballers for little outlay is so desirable. There are many excellent players out-of-contract in June 2017 across Europe, and Klopp would be silly to not at least have a look at the talent available on the cheap next month.

Here are THREE potential out-of-contract bargains for Liverpool in the coming windows…

Axel Witsel

Axel Witsel is a midfielder with vast experience and plenty of ability that could make a direct impact on the Liverpool first-team.

Making over 400 professional appearances for Standard Liege, Benfica and Zenit St Petersburg, he’s already been the subject of two massive money moves in his career.

He’s an international veteran too, winning 76 caps for a talented Belgium side.

With his contract up this summer, he’s well placed to end up in one of Europe’s biggest leagues and Liverpool should be sounding him out about a potential move next month if the fee is low.

Saido Berahino

Saido Berahino has never come across as particularly happy at West Brom, despite spending the entirety of his career at the club.

The attacker is only just returning from an injury he’s had since September and hasn’t had the chance to show what he can do this season. Last term wasn’t great for him either, netting just seven times in 35 appearances.

We reckon he still has plenty of potential though and it’s season 2014/15 that clubs will likely remember when considering a move for a player out-of-contract next summer.

That was the year he scored 20 goals for West Brom.

Perhaps a move will finally allow him to unlock his potential and if there’s no transfer fee involved, it’s relatively risk-free for Liverpool to give him a chance. If any manager in the Premier League can get the best out of him, it’s likely Klopp.

Thiago Silva

Perhaps the hottest commodity out-of-contract in Europe next year, Thiago Silva would be an incredible signing for Klopp’s defence at Liverpool.

The 32-year-old Paris Saint-Germain centre-back is still getting the job done at the top level and would likely enhance most teams in the Premier League.

Liverpool have conceded too many goals this season and need more stability in defence, and Silva’s excellent career in Europe with AC Milan and PSG has shown he is one of the best defenders in the world.

If the Reds can pick the Brazilian cap up on the cheap, he could be the signing of the season, but his salary could be an issue.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has claimed that the club still have a shot at winning the Premier League title this season, despite being 11 points off the pace after 13 games.

It has been a difficult few years for the Red Devils since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

The Scotsman had a glittering career, winning a total of 38 trophies while at the helm of Old Trafford, but the men that followed have not been able to fill his boots.

David Moyes lasted just 10 months, while Louis van Gaal was shown the door after two years, despite guiding the club to FA Cup glory in his final season.

Jose Mourinho was dubbed as the saviour when he was appointed in the summer, but the club have managed to win just five of their 13 fixtures, which has left them sixth in the table.

Only three points separate fourth from first in the division, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal leading the charge, but Giggs expects that to change. In an interview with Sport magazine, the Welshman said:

“There was obviously big expectation with Mourinho coming in, and the players who they brought in – Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly. They got off to a good start and then it’s just been a struggle with consistency, really.

“But I think it’s a really open league this year, and I don’t think they’re in a really bad position. It’s one of those seasons where people are just going to change their minds all the way through – at the moment Liverpool are on fire, at the start it was City, then it was Tottenham.

“It’s just a really close league. United would probably hope to be doing better, but they’re definitely not out of it.”

This season has marked United’s worst start to a campaign since 1990-91.

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Everton have completed the signing of Charlton Athletic youngster Ademola Lookman on a four-and-a-half-year deal,Âthe club confirms.What are the details?The 19-year-old winger, who can also play as a striker, has penned a long-term deal at the Merseyside outfit.

Sky Sports reportÂthat Everton parted with £7.5m to gain the Londoner’s signature, but the fee is expected to rise with add-ons.

At his age, Lookman could begin his career at the club in the development teams, but considering his impressive breakthrough at Charlton midway through last season, manager Ronald Koeman may want him among the first-team squad.

The teenager is a very promising talent having already scored 10 league goals in 45 appearances for the Addicks.

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After finalising the transfer, LookmanÂtold evertontv: “I’m delighted to be an Everton player. The club has a big history and I’m also looking forward to working with the manager, who has a great reputation for developing young players.

“I can’t wait to tackle the Premier League. It was good to experience the Championship last season and also League One for the last six months, but I feel like I’m ready now.ÂI want to settle in as soon as possible, it’s just a matter of time before I do.”

What can Everton fans expect?

In a word, versatility. He may only be a teenager, but Lookman has shown that he possesses the type of qualities that could see him thrive in the Premier League.

He can play on either side as a winger or in behind as a second striker, and he also has plenty of pace and an eye for goal.

Lookman, who has been capped at England Under-19 level, may look to Dele Alli for inspiration as it did not take long for the 20-year-old to earn himself a regular spot in the first team, and now he is arguably one of the first names on the teamsheet for Mauricio Pochettino.

It appears that Koeman is hoping for a similar outcome where Lookman is concerned after he told the club’s in-house channel that he wants the youngster to “make the step as soon as possible”.

The teenager spent two years at Charlton after joining their youth setup from Waterloo FC in 2014.

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With Liverpool losing in the early Premier League kick-off, Manchester United travelled to Stoke City with the opportunity to move to within two points of their arch rivals in the league table.Mark Hughes’ side didn’t stick the script, taking a shock lead in the first half which they held until stoppage time at the end of the game. It was a Juan Mata OG that gave them that lead, diverting a Marko Arnautovic cross past David De Gea at his near post.The Potters held firm from that point on but eventually succumbed to the pressure that United put on them.That was thanks to Wayne Rooney. His wonderful free-kick just when it looked like United’s unbeaten streak would come to an end rescued a point, but also made history. He became Manchester United’s all time leading goalscorer, bringing his total to 250 goals, 1 past Sir Bobby Charlton’s 249.Not only that, but as this stat by Opta shows, he also broke another record on Saturday, a Premier League one.

88 away league goals. That highlights his importance to Manchester United over the years and also demonstrates the quality he has in front of goal, considering he leads every other player in the competition.

It seems that despite being well into his thirties, Rooney is still a very important player at Old Trafford, and beyond.

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West Ham’s deal to sign Robert Snodgrass from Premier League rivals Hull City is edging closer, after the Tigers boss Marco Silva confirmed the player wants to leave.

What’s the word?

29-year-old Snodgrass is a player who has seen his name adorn the back pages throughout the transfer window and we’re now edging towards a breakthrough, with Hull City boss Marco Silva confirming the Scotland international wants to leave.

That sets things up for West Ham to complete a £10m deal in the coming days, but Burnley have also seen a bid accepted, whilst Middlesbrough are also reported to be interested. As it stands though, West Ham are the favourites.

With the impending exit of Dimitri Payet from the London Stadium, West Ham have a spot in their side for a creative outlet and Snodgrass appears to be that man.

What was said?

Speaking ahead of Hull’s FA Cup clash with Fulham tomorrow, ESPN quotes Hull’s boss as stating:

“There’s nothing official at the moment. He didn’t play [against Manchester United in the EFL Cup] on Thursday and he didn’t play also in the previous game at Stamford Bridge.”

“He hasn’t trained with the team for the last 12 days and hasn’t been available to play. The player, when he talked with me and with the club, said he wanted to leave.”

“The player did not have one problem with me. When he was available he tried to work and do his best, but for the last 12 days he hasn’t worked with me. When it is official, we need to find a solution to replace the player.”

When will the deal go ahead?

With two bids accepted from two different clubs, Robert Snodgrass will negotiate with both before making a decision. The Scottish international, who has scored nine goals across all competitions this season, has the power in his hands but all parties will want a swift solution.

If completed in time, Snodgrass could make his debut for a new club in the Premier League’s upcoming midweek fixtures and Hull will push a deal through quickly, as the relegation-threatened side will be looking to draft in a replacement.

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Upon their relegations from the Premier League, the season started with so much optimism for both Aston Villa and Newcastle United as they prepared to embark on exciting rebuilds after miserable periods for both clubs.

Over the course of the summer, the pair were largely linked with the same calibre of player and had both landed big-name European Cup-winning managers to guide them back to the proverbial Promised Land, though they yielded varying levels of success.

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While the Toon’s campaign hasn’t been quite the walk in the park many expected it to be – it never works out that way on Tyneside – Rafa Benitez’s side look well placed to make an instant return. Villa, meanwhile, are closer to League One than they are the Premier League.

So, what has made the complexion of their campaigns such an incredible contrast? Perhaps the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo at Villa Park was a risk, though you’d have to be a brave man to suggest things could have ended up quite like this.

Much was made of Benitez’s lack of experience in the Championship before the season started, but the former Real Madrid and Liverpool coach bought well in the summer and his credentials in grinding out results are there for all to see. Still, it’s not as if those in the Midlands bought badly for life in the second tier.

In fact, both Di Matteo and his successor, Steve Bruce, both have experience in winning promotion into the top tier and many of the players drafted in during the summer and the January transfer windows are rather astute ones indeed.

To really pinpoint the problems so deeply rooted in the halls of the Holt End these days, looking back at the end of last season could be a good starting point. A dreadful campaign for Villa was the culmination of a miserable period for the club, with poor decisions from those in the boardroom dragging this proud powerhouse of English football down.

However, with their fate sealed rather early on in the season, their relegation should have been a turning point for everyone involved. Instead of using their dismal drop to unite them, they allowed the losing feeling to rot within every aspect of the club, a mentality that’s so hard to change.

Even the aforementioned Bruce, a man who comes with a wonderful record of taking teams up, is finding it extremely difficult to rectify something that has proved to be such a sewing motif of daily life on Trinity Road.

Interestingly enough, Newcastle’s relegation was all but sealed with a drab 0-0 draw at Villa Park back in April, a result that allowed North East rivals Sunderland to send the Magpies packing. Still, since that sorry stalemate, the whole club has been completely revitalised it seems.

Where Newcastle accepted their fate, Villa allowed themselves to be consumed by hate. That’s the difference.

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Lost among the winners and losers debate that followed the January transfer window, West Ham deserve some credit. With a season that looked to be in tatters through much of the winter months followed by their best player, Dimitri Payet, downing tools to force a move to Marseille, things could easily have gone very wrong in the east end of London.

However, the Hammers replaced the aforementioned Frenchman with Robert Snodgrass – a solid Premier League performer – and took advantage of the Jose Fonte situation at Southampton to land an experienced centre-back and help stem the tide of goals at the wrong end of the pitch.

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Since then Slaven Bilic’s team have continued to show signs of improvement on the whole, which bodes well for a potential summer of spending at the London Stadium. France Football (below) have claimed that two offers went in for Saint-Etienne’s impressive right-sided full-back Kevin Malcuit last month, and judging by his stats so far this term, a third should be in the pipeline ahead of the next window…

The 25-year-old has been a key part of a very impressive St Etienne defence this season, with his 49 interceptions, 38 tackles won and zero defensive errors helping Les Verts to a fine record of 19 goals against – second only to Paris Saint-Germain’s 18 in Ligue 1. As well as being good in his own third, Malcuit has created ten chances across 17 games, laying on three assists and has completed 45 take-ons – a return many wingers would be happy with.

With West Ham struggling at right-back, it could be third time lucky later this year…

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Manchester City surged towards another victory in the Premier League, their fourth in a row, with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.Goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane sealed the win with Pep Guardiola’s re-asserting their position in the top four positions, now five points ahead of fourth placed Arsenal.City have found a rich vein of form at a key point in the season with the FA Cup still up for grabs and the chance of a UEFA Champions League quarter-final looming.Central to this uptick in form has been the performances of David Silva, who again contributed an assist on Sunday, setting up Sane’s goal that killed the game off.As this stat from Squawka shows, that contribution is typical of Silva who has proven to be the most effective attacking midfielder in the Premier League over the last four years.

That’s an average of 22 goals a season from 2012/13 to this point, a quite incredible consistency from the Spaniard. Can he keep his form up for the remainder of the season and help deliver serious success in Guardiola’s first season at the club?

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