Manchester City

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week nine he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 4-0

I just don't know how Southampton pick themselves up from last week's defeat by Leicester, and there is only one outcome here.

It will be a rearguard action from the off by Saints - but they will end up losing. It is a question of how long they can hold out for, and then how many goals Manchester City will score.

In the Fantasy Premier League community, everyone is talking about triple captaining Erling Haaland, because he has not scored in his past three league games.

I'm saying Haaland will not score this week either, but City will score four and keep a clean sheet for the first time in the Premier League since their opening game of the season. They have to stop conceding eventually, surely.

Nemzzz's prediction: 3-1

As much as I am with United, City are just so hard to stop.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker talks former City midfielder Michael Brown through Adama Traore outpacing him in a duel during City's recent Premier League win against Fulham.

Listen to You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker on BBC Sounds

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

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You may have read my comments on Thursday having spoken to Phil Foden after the win over Sparta Prague.

He said he was "back" and his manager, Pep Guardiola, is delighted he is. In a season in which City are being hampered by injuries to key players, in a squad that is already small, having the likes of Foden getting back to his best could really help them in this middle third of the season.

I asked the 24-year-old how far he was from being the player who scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season. Guardiola is not bothered because of the "natural talent" that the forward possesses.

"When he's fine, he will get it," said Guardiola.

"He's a natural talent. The first goal against Sparta Prague, Phil, with his talent, solved the game for himself."

There were many examples on Wednesday of 'classic Foden'. The ball runs across his body, he looks up from a central position and unleashes a shot that can sometimes result in a spectacular goal.

"In a career of many years, and Phil has many years already, you have these bumps - ups and downs," Guardiola added.

“Try to reduce these short setbacks as quick as possible. Be patient, let them [players struggling for form] know that we are there. Everything is going well."

Commentary on Saturday with me and Steve Eyre - who once coached Foden at City's academy - is on BBC Radio Manchester from 14:00 BST.

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Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Manchester City player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Yaya Toure.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Southampton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish remain unavailable.

• He said he does not know the timescale for De Bruyne's return and said the injury list "is what it is".

• On playing Southampton, who are second from bottom: "After Champions League games, I prefer to play teams who are better in the table because you focus more and don't look at that. They have the courage to play and are brave with the ball. Wolves were at the bottom and we struggled to win."

• He said he is "not concerned at all" with Phil Foden because he is a "natural, incredible talent" who will navigate the "bump" he is feeling. However, he added: "I am glad to hear he feels good [after scoring against Sparta Prague]."

• In response to how City could go two years unbeaten at home in the league by avoiding defeat against Saints: "It is really good. We are consistent - if we weren't, we wouldn't have won the Premier League so many times. We do our job every single time."

• He praised summer signing Savinho for his work ethic and ambitions: "What I like is that he wants to be the best player on the pitch and to try things. He has courage to participate in everything. He's not scoring goals but he's trying."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Why Phil Foden has not started many Premier League games this season is a hot topic.

We are so used to seeing the matchday decisions from Pep Guardiola and the performances on the field, but we do not see the day to day and how players are.

Foden had a virus that took a little longer to recover from than first thought and it was also a tough re-entry back into this season because he did not have a pre-season.

That meant he did not have the opportunity to get some minutes under his belt in a friendly environment after going deep into the summer's Euros with England.

A few players who made the final have not hit the ground running this season the way they should have hoped to - and that includes Foden.

Guardiola can reintroduce him in a manner he feels is right at the moment because the team are still getting results. He is not just playing him because he should be there.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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Manchester City had 85 touches in Wolves' box in their 2-1 win last Sunday, the most by a team in a Premier League game this season and in an away game on record since 2008-09.

City's overall total of 404 opposition box touches is the most by a team in their opening eight games of a season Opta has on record.

Guess the former Manchester City player from their Premier League statistics at the club:

• Years at club: 2010-2018

• Position: Midfielder

• Appearances: 230

• Goals: 62

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

Erling Haaland is interested in joining Real Madrid when he leaves Manchester City, with the striker's contract expiring in 2027. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Ipswich Town could terminate Kalvin Phillips' loan deal from Manchester City in the January transfer window, if the midfielder does not get up to speed at Portman Road. (Football Insider), external

Outgoing City director of football Txiki Begiristain is a target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Walking through the mix zone after the win over Sparta Prague was a very smiley Phil Foden.

Arms folded but white teeth on show, Foden was one of four goalscorers on the pitch for Manchester City.

Wednesday night was just his fourth start in the nine games he has featured in. City have played 12 - so where has he been?

"It's nice to start and score," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I'm enjoying my football again. Obviously it's been a slow start for me. Every player goes through it, but I’m back now.

"Even last year I started slow. There's not been a big difference. A bit of fatigue coming back from last season, illness, a few niggles as well. It's a few things added together."

He is not wrong. After nine games for City last season, he had just one goal - he has got two in his first nine this campaign.

"Any player has been through the ups and downs of football. It was just a bump in the road," Foden added.

Although he admitted being still some way off his best, hinting at 'burnout' and drawing comparisons with Rodri, Foden is now hoping for a run of games to get his form and fitness back to the high standards of last year, which saw him finish with his best ever goal tally for the club in a season.

He signed off with one simple sentence: "I'm definitely happy."

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to every Manchester City game - home and away - live on BBC Radio Manchester.

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We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Champions League game between Manchester City and Sparta Prague.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: It was a good result in the end. I'm glad to see Nathan Ake back in action and the squad rotation is working. We should have seen it off in the first half.

Ken: I thought City showed great patience against yet another massed defence. Once the second goal went in, the spaces opened up and Sparta Prague couldn't live with them.

Neil: For me, Matheus Nunes was man of the match. He made a fantastic contribution from a position that he doesn't usually play in, out on the left side.

Adrian: The scoreline looks good for City. However, not to pour cold water on Erling Haaland's goal, but his foot was high and he had no sight of where he was putting his foot in a tight area - surely that is not to be condoned. He didn't look at where the other players were and he showed disregard for their safety.

Manchester City put five past Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday, scoring three goals in less than 10 minutes.

One player who was crucial to City's improved second-half performance was winger Savinho. The Brazilian's hard work paid off when he assisted Erling Haaland's eye-catching acrobatic goal.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Conor McNamara had high praise for Erling Haaland, who scored another acrobatic delight against Sparta Prague on Wednesday.

"I've just never seen a goal like it!" McNamara said. "He jumps up with the athleticism of an NBA basketball player, his heel is above head height of everyone else - but it's not dangerous because he's not swinging it around - and he donkey kicks it into the back of the goal.

"A remarkable, eye catching goal. And quite frankly, the type of goal that only he can score."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Manchester City are eyeing a move for 26-year-old Sporting and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, as a long-term replacement for Erling Haaland. (Sky Sport Switzerland, via Mirror), external

Pep Guardiola wants to pursue RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, with the Manchester City boss keen to bring in the 21-year-old Frenchman next summer. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

All the angles of Erling Haaland's spectacular goal against Sparta Prague...

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Former Manchester City striker Jon Macken, speaking to BBC Radio Manchester about Erling Haaland's acrobatic goal against Sparta Prague: "You don’t even try it! That is the unusual thing.

"You might do something stupid in training when you are mucking around, but to do it in a serious manner like he did – because there was intent there and he did mean to do it – it was like a backheel scissor kick in a crazy way.

"But he does things like that, he always surprises you. I’m really pleased for him. He is a fantastic player, a great goalscorer and he didn’t actually have that much to do, but when he does do that he has a big impact.

"How he impacts games is with goals and that is what he does - there is no one better.

On Haaland breaking records: "He excites people because you know he is going to score goals.

"You look at the next game and think, what records is he going to break now? Who is he going to surpass now? And that is the beauty of it with a player like Haaland. He is young and you know he has time to go and break records."

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Watch Erling Haaland's first goal against Sparta Prague on Wednesday and the question you will find yourself thinking is 'how?'

There's something that amazes with each watch of a replay - from the height Haaland managed to get his foot up to, the fact he was facing away from goal and then the connection and power he managed with a backheel volley.

It was an incredible goal but a finish we should perhaps be no longer surprised that Haaland is capable of producing.

It came from just his 12th touch of the ball and it opened the floodgates both for himself and Manchester City as he got another goal in a 5-0 win.

Bigger picture, however, it ended his mini-drought after failing to score in his previous two games and Manchester City fans will now be hopeful it will spark him on to another incredible scoring run like he enjoyed during the first few games of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports:

"We were playing good. I didn't expect them to defend so deep. They played offensively in their other matches but they defend so deep it's difficult. The moment we broke the game for 2-0 it was fine."

On Erling Haaland goal: "I saw it when the ball came in. It's unbelievable. He's a statue. So tall and so flexible. I like it, he has this sense of humour. Very similar to the Dortmund one a few years ago. Unbelievable. I don't know which was more difficult, both very difficult.

"He had some chances but it's difficult. He is literally on the penalty spot with three defenders and two midfielders - he's always surrounded by five or six players. He's so fast too, that's maybe why teams defend so deep."

On taking Haaland off before penalty: "We play a lot of games and I had to do this. He understands the decisions and is so generous with the team."

On John Stones goal: "When Erling is not available, John can play as a striker. Gerard Pique in Barca - he had an incredible sense of goal and John is the same. He's already scored a few goals. He's back and I'm happy for him."

On celebrations: "Sometimes the opponents jam and jam. I was happy we pressed well. It was just satisfaction. When they defend with 11 players the space is not there and in the right moment we have to punish. Really pleased for the momentum that we have with the 14, 15 players we had available. We are who we are.

"I know the players how they are and the players will come back. They will do everything for the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's Phil Foden, speaking to TNT Sports:

"Important to get the win tonight. First half they frustrated us a bit, we were a bit sloppy and they were good on the counter attack. We had to stay patient and in the second half we broke them down more.

"He [Pep Guardiola] just told us to stay patient [at half time], when a team is sat so deep it's difficult to break them down and he just said don't try and rush things, keep possession. He likes for you to stick to your role and be patient and waiting for the lads to give you the ball at times.

"I've had a slow start to the season. I'm getting a bit more match sharp. Playing in the pockets is something I've always worked on from being a youngster. I will always check my shoulder to see what's coming. Good for my confidence to score early and feel sharp out there again."

On slow start to season: "I was the best player last year, that's what everyone wants to see. That's the standard I've set myself and I want to get back to that.

"I don't feel pressure. I just enjoy the football and don't think about the outside. But I do put pressure on myself to get better. I always want to push myself.

"The aim is to hit what I hit last year. I showed over a long season I was consistent."

On Erling Haaland's goal: "I just spoke to him - if I tried to do that I'd pull my groin. I don't know how he did it I just think it's just his long legs. He's a freak isn't he. I've seen him score one similar against Borussia Dortmund."