The last game of the season is always an odd occasion and when Manchester City head to Southampton on Sunday it will be no different.
Pep Guardiola is focussed on amassing 100 points and will demand nothing less than the victory needed for his charges to achieve such an incredible feat.
In contrast, Southampton know that anything other than a very heavy defeat will see them retain their Premier League status at Swansea City’s expense.
The Saints have a goal difference of -18 while the Swans have one of -27. So a nine-goal swing is needed for Swansea to stay up.
In all likelihood, that will mean Mark Hughes will abandon his two up top tactics that he has deployed in recent weeks and pack his players in to defend their own half.
Hughes would take a 0-3 loss but anything more than that could make it interesting.
City have shown on many an occasion this season that they are more than capable of putting five or six past teams who employ this tactic. However others such as Newcastle and Huddersfield have escaped with a narrow defeat or even a point and Mark Hughes knows the odds are better stacked in his favour by employing this tactic.
But should City get a couple of early goals and Swansea take the lead against Stoke there could be some serious nerves at St Mary’s. City are not a team who ease off once the goals start flying in.
Pep Guardiola will surely ring the changes again after Yaya Toure’s fabulous send off against Swansea on Wednesday evening with Raheem Sterling likely to return to action.
Youngsters Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz both need an appearance each to qualify for a Premier League medals so it will be no surprise of one of them starts and the other is brought on at some stage.
At the back, John Stones will be hoping to get another 90 minutes under his belt ahead of the World Cup and Benjamin Mendy will also want to continue his return from injury to boost his chances of making the France squad.
As ever City fans will travel well for the last game of the season where inflatable bananas are a given alongside the usual fancy dress theme.
What should be a routine victory for City could get interesting should Southampton falter.
