Manchester City v Southampton preview: Frank Lampard says Premier League goodbye
Sunday 24 May 2015 15:15, UK
Frank Lampard calls time on his Premier League career as Manchester City host Southampton on Sunday.
The midfielder - set to join New York City FC in the summer - is one of just four players to make over 600 appearances in the Premier League, and says farewell to English football after 20 years.
City will finish second as they relinquish their title to Chelsea, with speculation rife over the future of Manuel Pellegrini at the club.
They host a Southampton side whose season has surpassed many expectations and, if they better Tottenham's result at Everton, they will guarantee themselves a place in next season's Europa League, although the result of the FA Cup final could render that irrelevant as an Arsenal win would mean seventh place also enters the competition.
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Fernando is out for the hosts after missing the trip to Swansea last weekend with an unspecified knock.
Playmaker Samir Nasri is City's only other notable absentee having been ruled out for the closing weeks of the campaign with a groin injury.
Ronald Koeman has confirmed Dusan Tadic (groin) and Morgan Schneiderlin (knee) will miss Sunday's game, while Fraser Forster (also knee) is a long-term absentee.
Jay Rodriguez will travel to the Etihad Stadium, but the Saints boss says the forward will not make the squad as he continues to recover from a knee ligament injury.
Opta facts
Manchester City have won their last three Premier League home games against Southampton, this after losing the three beforehand.
Southampton have found the back of the net on each of their last nine trips to Manchester City in the Premier League.
Only one of Graziano Pelle’s 12 Premier League goals this season has come away from home.
Sergio Aguero has been substituted 12 times this season, which is a record low for him in a Premier League campaign. Overall he has been taken off 60 times in 102 starts.
City are the only team not to draw 0-0 this season. They are almost certain to be the top scoring team in the Premier League for the third time in the last four campaigns.
David Silva has already scored more league goals this season (12) than the previous two campaigns combined (11).
Merson's prediction
Southampton had an unbelievable result last week but I can’t see them beating Manchester City, who will want to finish on a high. They have been disappointing this season by being complacent and inconsistent. There will be changes this summer there; if you keep doing the same things you’ll keep getting the same results.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
With Manchester City assured of second place, the onus is on Southampton to fight for the points in order to challenge Liverpool and Tottenham for fifth place. The Saints are 100/30 to finish higher than their current position of seventh, so the odds are against them, but they can put pressure on their rivals elsewhere by scoring in the first 10 minutes at the Etihad (8/1). City are the 4/7 favourites for all three points though, with the visitors priced up at 4/1 for a win and 7/2 to draw.
