The Premier League schedule ambles onward on Wednesday evening for both table-topping Manchester City and mid-table dwellers Southampton. With the two clubs preparing to battle one another at the Etihad, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino believes that City is not "unbeatable" and that every club in the modern game has their underlying "problems" to exploit, despite the Sky Blues' barnstorming start to the 2017-18 campaign both domestically and on the continent.

Problems

Speaking to the press (via Daily Mail), Pellegrino insists that "nobody is unbeatable in football and in sport" and rebuffed his initial statement by relating back to Huddersfield Town's valiant attempt to stunt City's march on the title race on Sunday, claiming: "every single team has got problems, because Huddersfield was really close to getting something." The Terriers were 1-0 up against Pep Guardiola's clinical set-up at the Kirklees Stadium at half-time, though David Wagner's men subsequently succumbed to City's advances in the second 45-minutes, with Raheem Sterling netting the winning goal in the 2-1 victory for the Citizens with less than 10 minutes left to play, after record-goalscorer Sergio Aguero restored parity in the tie from the penalty spot moments after the break.

But, without getting too carried away in rattling 'Pep's' cage, Pellegrino is also aware that his resurgent contingent will have to be at the "top" of their game if they're to get anything out of their encounter against City. Though he remains "hopeful" it could be a "nice day" for his squad and the fans if they can nab a result on the night, of course. After 3 consecutive matches without a win, Southampton drubbed Everton 4-1 at St. Mary's on Sunday, so the south-coast outfit will certainly have wind in their previously slackened sails.

Pacesetters

Huddersfield may have dealt City a scare in their last Premier League outing away from home, but the way that Guardiola's collective endeavoured to snag 3 points is ultimately a measure of their brawny superiority over the chasing pack in the standings.

8 points ahead of bitter rivals Manchester United - who occupy second - City are indeed yet to lose this season in the League calendar and in the Champions League, meaning although they are the undisputed pacesetters in the English top-flight particularly, they are also there to be shot at as they rest on their substantial lead at the summit of the table. Though Pellegrino's somewhat sniping words will not directly alter his side's performance or drastically unease City's ruthless, competitive composure, however.
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