Widely tipped as a possible relegation contender following its summer of upheaval, Southampton has stunned English soccer by winning eight of its first 12 games to sit in second place in the Premier League and split the country's established powers.

The results of Southampton's next three games could show whether it has the ability to hang around for the long haul.

The team managed by former Netherlands defender Ronald Koeman hosts champion Manchester City on Sunday to kick off a challenging run of fixtures that sees it play Arsenal and Manchester United in the next two rounds and then Everton and Chelsea later in December.