Fixture Focus: Promising fixture run for leaders Man City

Southampton may have ended Man City’s 12-match winning streak but it certainly isn’t time to ditch assets from the champions. Arguable fixture-proof, they’re about to face Brentford (H) and Norwich (a) before a slightly better run of opponents that still won’t scare owners.

The Bees have one clean sheet from their last 18 matches and have lost their last four outings. Brilliant Belgian Kevin De Bruyne is in form for the first time this season, notching four goals and two assists over the last seven matches.

There’s always two rotation worries with Pep Guardiola’s side – whose turn is it to sit on the bench and whose turn it is to hit form. This streaky nature is showcased by Bernardo Silva.

Bernardo’s ownership shot up from 212,000 to 2.85 million between Gameweeks 8 and 17, as he registered six goals, two assists and 66 points – an average of 7.33 per match. Since then? He has only been involved in one of Man City’s 22 goals.

Phil Foden offers out-of-position potential and a promising fee of £8.0m. Raheem Sterling scored five goals in four games but none since Gameweek 19.

For those contemplating whether to immediately re-sign Mohamed Salah or not, the captaincy potential of Man City assets for the next two weeks offers a compelling alternative – as does the Double Gameweek 25 of Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Further back, Man City’s imperious defence have kept five clean sheets from their last eight attempts and Joao Cancelo is an essential pick. The game’s second-highest scoring defender with 134 points, Cancelo not only offers more secure game time than colleagues Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte but he has eight assists.

Nine points clear of Liverpool and with Champions League football soon to resume, the final weeks of the season may see a secured league title and a lower appeal to their assets. Until then, they will likely be relentless so now is the time to jump onto an attacking option like De Bruyne, Foden or Bernardo.