Manchester City will seek to end what has been a hugely disappointing year by finishing in the at-one-point-unlikely position of second when they host a Southampton side who still need a result to have a chance of guaranteeing European qualification on Sunday.

Ronald Koeman’s Saints are guaranteed to finish at least seventh, but this wouldn’t be enough to be completely sure of a spell in next season’s Europa League as it would rely on Arsenal defeating Aston Villa in the F.A. Cup Final to ensure such a scenario.

With Spurs facing a tricky trip to Everton, there is a good chance that a draw would prove enough, as if Tottenham lose at Goodison Park, Southampton’s goal difference is vastly superior to that of the north London outfit.

Last weekend was both excellent and exasperating for Southampton fans, as while they smacked Aston Villa 6-1 – with Sadio Mane scoring the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick – Spurs also broke out of their mini rut with a 2-0 win over Hull City.

There is still a chance that Saints could finish fifth, but this would be dependent on Liverpool failing to beat Stoke, Spurs failing to beat Everton, and Southampton claiming three points at the Etihad Stadium – a ground at which they have only tasted victory once, some 11 years ago.

As for City, this game could be a farewell for a number of key personnel, with the futures of James Milner, Yaya Toure and manager Manuel Pellegrini all up in the air with currently no real indication of when they could be resolved.

Milner – a reported £26 million signing from Aston Villa in 2010 – is out of contract and, as of yet, there has been nothing tabled from the City hierarchy, while Toure continues to attract attention from abroad amid rumours that he wants to leave the Etihad.

As for Pellegrini, if he survives the chop following an abysmal season in which City have ended the season without a trophy and also been tactically outclassed in Europe for the second year running, it will be nothing short of a miracle for the Chilean.

City are overwhelming favourites for this match, with the bookies giving them odds of 4/7 for a victory, with Saints listed at 6/1 and a draw on hand at 18/5.

Southampton’s Graziano Pelle has had a terrific first season in English football with 16 goals in all competitions and is 8/1 to break the deadlock or 11/4 to score anytime. For City, the Premier League’s top scorer, Sergio Aguero, is 7/2 to score first or 10/11 to add to his tally of 25 league goals.