PEP Guardiola dismissed any suggestion Manchester City should brush off Saints convincingly, given the St Mary’s side’s recent poor form - and the fact they have lost two games 9-0 in the past two seasons.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side ended a nine-game Premier League run without a victory, when they beat Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

A fixture in that miserable sequence was a 9-0 defeat to City’s rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.

But Guardiola, who saw his team’s 21-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Red Devils on Sunday, said it would be an “incredible success” to beat Saints at home tomorrow (6pm).

“We will score 18 – 18-0, this will be the result,” said Guardiola sarcastically.

“What a question! They (conceded) nine when they played 88 minutes 10 against 11.

“Do you think this is a joke? We are going to score nine goals or 18? Be serious.

“We are just trying to win the game. It would be an incredible success for us. Win the game, that’s all.”

City’s sublime recent run of wins was started against Saints when they overcame Hasenhuttl’s side at St Mary’s 1-0 in December.

Guardiola added: “It’s one game at a time. Southampton – we try to do a good game against a good side.

“I’m a big fan, admirer of the style, the way Ralph and his team is playing.

“I don’t see the table - I see the quality they have and what they do and it’s another test to play good and try to win.”