Football Tips: Mahrez to shine in our Man City v Southampton best bets

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

There is no greater certainty in life than Manchester City bouncing back from disappointment and Ralph Hasenhuttl will have cursed Man United for their demolition of Pep Guardiola’s boys last weekend, knowing exactly that.

Even in a wider context, City were embarrassed in the league last year and they’re now in cruise control headed towards another league title – with everyone else so far back in the rear-view mirror that objects, for once, are not closer than they may seem.

Wednesday 18:00: Man City v Southampton
Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League

Such has been the decline into the abyss of the Saints over the last three months – a period which saw them drop from top four candidates to potentially in trouble – I’ve never been more confident that an absolute trouncing is incoming and I won’t make any apologies.

Honestly, sometimes I feel like the only thing that holds Manchester City back are the bizarre decisions made by Gabriel Jesus, and I suspect he’ll be on his way out of the club come summertime anyway. So, what does this mean for a lethargic midweek Southampton performance? Perish the thought. Here are three wagers while as you watch the drama, or lack thereof, unfold before your withered humpday eyes.

Pep Guardiola Manchester City

Short-price punt: Man City Half-Time/Full-Time

They won’t be wasting any time in getting the job done. Sometimes I think Guardiola can be a bit of a nuisance in the dressing room. Their Amazon documentary revealed as much. But that’s generally due to the massive amounts of information he expects his side to consume.

This time, it won’t be like that. There’s no tactical approach that can make this win easier than it already should be. He’ll merely tell them to go out and redeem themselves because their cross-city rivals are now convinced they’re competitive in this rivalry again. Cool flex, bro.

Value Bet: Man City to Lead at 10 Minutes

I know I’m doubling down on my point, but the Manchester derby was won in the opening ten minutes. Not just because of the penalty concession (who gave it away again?) but because of the level of intent United showed.

That needs to be reciprocated going forward and Pep will ensure this is hammered home into his players. All Southampton can hope for is that they take the foot off the pedal – which funnily enough is probably their best way of sneaking a point. Play dead. I suppose when times are tough.

Long Shot: Riyad Mahrez to Score Two or More

I think there’s a few contenders for Man City’s Player of the Year. Right up there you’d have Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan – but their X-factor in so many games this year has been Riyad Mahrez.

A forgotten member of that terrific Leicester team who won a Premier League title, the winger hasn’t quite featured as much as he’d have liked in the interim, but Real Madrid reportedly interested in securing his services in the summer, here’s hoping we finally see the player we all expected him to become when he was younger.

And I feel like Southampton, with an overly-adventurous Ryan Bertrand at left wing-back, could be about to experience it first-hand.