Manchester City Aiming to Extend Their Winning Streak to Five Against Southampton
Manchester City are on a mission for their fifth consecutive victory across all competitions as they gear up to host Southampton at the Etihad Stadium for a Premier League showdown this Saturday afternoon.
The Citizens’ recent form has been stellar, with a dramatic 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, followed by a resounding 5-0 triumph against Sparta Prague in the Champions League midweek. With momentum firmly on their side, Pep Guardiola’s squad now has their sights on Premier League supremacy. A win over Southampton could see City leapfrog Liverpool to the top of the league, with Southampton struggling in 19th place and still searching for their first league win after eight games.
Here’s a look into the rich history and fierce battles that have defined the Manchester City vs. Southampton rivalry.
Head-to-Head Showdown
Total Encounters: 101
Manchester City Wins: 41
Draws: 27
Southampton Wins: 33
With 101 matches in the books, Manchester City lead the overall head-to-head, boasting 41 wins to Southampton’s 33, with 27 games ending in a draw. The first encounter between these teams dates back to February 1910, when City delivered a commanding 5-0 win in the FA Cup. However, it took Southampton until 1926 to exact revenge with an electrifying 4-3 victory in Division Two.
Over decades of clashes in English football’s top tiers, the Saints initially had the upper hand, winning 20 league matches to City’s 11 up until the 1990s. Yet, since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, the tides have turned dramatically in Manchester City’s favor, who now dominate with 22 wins out of 38 Premier League meetings. The Saints have only managed seven wins in this period, with nine games ending in stalemates.
Southampton’s Elusive Victory at Etihad
Southampton’s recent record against Manchester City has been rough, with just one win in their last 14 Premier League meetings—a narrow 1-0 at St. Mary’s in July 2020. Their last triumph at the Etihad Stadium dates back to April 2004, when a 3-1 win under manager Paul Sturrock gave Saints fans something to cheer about.
City’s recent wins have often been emphatic, as 11 of their last 14 victories over Southampton have come by at least a two-goal margin. This includes their stunning 6-1 home win in November 2018, which tied for their biggest scoreline against Southampton along with a 6-1 win in 1928.
A Look Back at Recent Meetings
In their two encounters during the 2022-23 season, Manchester City crushed Southampton by an aggregate score of 8-1, highlighting their dominance in league play. However, Southampton pulled off an upset in January 2023, knocking City out of the EFL Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win—one of the Saints’ few bright spots against Guardiola’s side in recent years.
Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, who became City’s top scorer in this fixture, amassed eight goals in 14 games against Southampton, including six in the Premier League.
Recent Results at a Glance
Premier League Matches
Apr 08, 2023: Southampton 1-4 Man City
Oct 08, 2022: Man City 4-0 Southampton
Jan 22, 2022: Southampton 1-1 Man City
Sep 18, 2021: Man City 0-0 Southampton
Mar 10, 2021: Man City 5-2 Southampton
Dec 19, 2020: Southampton 0-1 Man City
Jul 05, 2020: Southampton 1-0 Man City
Nov 02, 2019: Man City 2-1 Southampton
Dec 30, 2018: Southampton 1-3 Man City
Nov 04, 2018: Man City 6-1 Southampton
With Manchester City now eyeing the top of the league table and Southampton desperate for a win to turn around their season, Saturday’s clash promises to be as intense as ever. Can the Citizens continue their relentless form, or will Southampton shock the Etihad?
