On paper, Manchester City's Premier League clash with Southampton shouldn't be much of a contest.

The Citizens boast arguably the greatest manager of his generation, Pep Guardiola, one of the most expensively-assembled squads in Europe and some of the Premier League's biggest talents - not least including midfield playmakers Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, alongside star striker Sergio Aguero.

Compare that to a Saints outfit who've sold their key players for the last three summers, lost manager Ronald Koeman to Everton during the off-season and started the campaign by taking just two points from their first four Premier League games.

However, there are now just seven points separating the two clubs in the league table, with City in pole position and Southampton rocking up in eighth, and their coming meeting at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday could be a lot closer than most people think.

In fact, we at FootballFanCast are tipping Claude Puel's boys to cause a shock upset this weekend.

CITY HAVE HIT A HURDLE

FC Barcelona v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Group C

Manchester City's recent results have proved the Pep appreciation in the opening weeks of the season, when the Eastlands outfit were carving up everything in their path, was abundantly premature.

Indeed, since back-to-back wins over Swansea City in the Premier League and League Cup, City have endured draws with Celtic and Everton and defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.

Of course, that's by no means the end of the world for City or their title aspirations, but they are entering Sunday's game out of form and amid a mini-crisis. Perhaps most tellingly of all, their four-game winless run has seen the Citizens concede ten goals.

SOUTHAMPTON ARE FLYING HIGH

West Ham United v Southampton - Premier League

Southampton, on the other hand, are amid a real purple patch.

Although they came up short at the San Siro against Inter Milan, despite playing incredibly well, the Saints haven't suffered defeat domestically since the start of September - a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in which the Gunners scored two very dubious goals.

That includes three Premier League wins from their last four, keeping three clean sheets in the process. Likewise, striker Charlie Austin is in red hot form, netting seven times across all competitions this season - including a brace against Burnley last weekend.

WE NOW KNOW CITY'S WEAKNESSES

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City - Premier League

This time last month, City carried a real fear factor - some journalists even asking Pep Guardiola whether his side could become the first English team to complete a historic quadruple.

But a run of poor results has exposed their weaknesses, most particularly mistakes when pressured on the ball in their own defensive third.

Such a game-plan isn't Southampton's style in the same way as Tottenham, for example. Nonetheless, it gives Puel food for thought and a template to adapt his side around for Sunday's game.

It's almost as if the world now knows the Man City cheat codes - all Southampton have to do is tap them in.