Manchester city boss Manuel Pelligrini naturally expressed with his side’s 4-1 home defeat by on Saturday, calling the performance a “complete disaster”. The defeat saw City replaced by Leicester City at the top of the Premier League table, but there was, at least, a break in the clouds for the Sky Blues.

Argentine striker Sergio Aguero led the line for over an hour and scored, albeit just a consolation goal, despite only just recovering from a hamstring injury. Furthermore, having already secured a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, the midweek fixture against Juventus assumes less importance that might have otherwise been the case. Even so, Pellegrini will be keen to win the group, so a weakened City side is unlikely.

Prior to the 1-0 home defeat by Stoke last Saturday, Southampton had been unbeaten in six Premier League matches, climbing to seventh in the table as a result. However, influential Italian striker Graziano Pelle was largely anonymous at the Britannia Stadium and, having collected a booking for kicking the ball away, is suspended for this fixture. Pelle has scored six goals in the Premier League this season, so his absence is a big blow for the Saints.

Neither side can really be backed with any confidence after disappointing results last weekend. Manchester City have scored in all seven home games in the Premier League this season, but Saints’ defence is usually pretty solid so, in the absence of top-scorer Graziano Pelle, let’s try a punt on Sadio Mane to score the first goal at 10/1 with William Hill.

Selection: Sadio Mane to score first goal (10/1 with William Hill)

Prior to the international break, Newcastle United recorded a bore draw against Stoke, in which they were repeatedly frustrated by Potters’ keeper Jack Butland, and a fortunate 1-0 away win against Bournemouth to ease the pressure on besieged manager Steve McClaren. However, McClaren remains third favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post, so he’ll be hoping that the Magpies’ luck continues when they face Leicester City at St. James’s Park on Saturday.

Jamie Vardy scored for the ninth Premier League game in a row during the Foxes’ 2-1 win over Watford three weeks ago and Claudio Ranieri’s side currently lie fourth in the Premier League, just a single point behind leaders Manchester City. Leicester City have scored in all their Premier League matches and conceded in all bar one, so there may be some value in both teams to score and Leicester City to win at 10/3 with Bet365.

Selection: Both teams to score and Leicester City to win (10/3 with Bet365)

Claudio Ranieri, a.k.a. the Tinkerman, and his Leicester City side continue to defy expectations, with the Foxes currently third in the Premier League table, just three points behind leaders Manchester City. England striker Jamie Vardy scored for the eighth game in a row against West Brom last Saturday, taking his Premier League tally to eleven in as many games, and the Foxes have lost just once, against Arsenal.

Watford suffered a similar fate against Arsenal three games ago, but the striking partnership of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo was seen to good effect in consecutive 2-0 victories against Stoke and West Ham and the Hornets currently lie eleventh in the Premier League table. Watford may have ‘earned the respect of the Premier League’, according to head coach Quique Sanchez Flores, but a trip to the King Power Stadium seems sure to test their mettle once again.

Leicester make some appeal at 10/11 with Totesport and Betfred, as does Jamie Vardy to score first at 4/1 with Boylesports, but in search of some value, let’s go for Leicester to win 2-1 at 17/2 with Bet Victor.

Selection: Leicester City to win 2-1 (17/2 with Bet Victor)

Following a decent start to the Premier League campaign, Norwich City have lost their last three league games – including a 6-2 trouncing by Newcastle United – and went out of the League Cup against Everton on Tuesday, despite looking the better side on occasions. The Canaries currently lie 16th in the Premier League, just three points off the bottom three, so their next four fixtures, against Manchester City (a), Swansea City, Chelsea (a) and Arsenal, may prove crucial to their survival in the top tier.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are riding high at the top of the table, having thrashed Bournemouth and Newcastle in their last two home games in the Premier League and ground out a bore draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday. The best prices available with the mainstream bookmakers are 3/10 Manchester City, 12/1 Norwich City and 11/2 the draw, suggesting a routine home win is the likely result.

For all its recent woes, Alex Neil’s side has scored in four out of five away fixtures in the Premier League this season and played for an hour with ten men when losing 3-0 to Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium in August. Even without the injured Sergio Aguero, the Sky Blues look worthy favourites, so let’s try both teams to score and Manchester City to win at 7/4 with Stan James.

Selection: Both teams to score and Manchester City to win (7/4 with Stan James)