Manchester City will travel to Southampton in an attempt to book a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.
On the back of a positive performance against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, Southampton will try to maintain their winning run when they host the mighty Manchester City at St Mary’s in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Southampton’s poor run in the Premier League has not really coincided with their form in the cup competitions, as they have managed to display a winning mentality in their campaigns in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.
Nathan Jones has been dealing with a relegation battle. But a longer run in the Carabao Cup might provide Southampton with the needed confidence boost to survive in the top flight this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s ruthless performance against Chelsea could be a major warning for the Saints, who might be fancying a rare victory against the Citizens. Pep Guardiola’s side might have shown some vulnerabilities in the Premier League. But their recent back-to-back victories over the Blues proved they are still in very much the team to beat.
Manchester City had almost £250m worth of talent on their bench yesterday 💰 pic.twitter.com/hvZaaqaSRG
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 9, 2023
A slender 1-0 win over the west Londoners followed by a 4-0 thrashing could just be the start for the path to another Carabao Cup triumph. But Southampton will let Manchester City have it easy. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News and Tactics
Southampton
Nathan Jones will not be able to call Armel Bella-Kotchap, Stuart Armstrong, Valentino Livramento, Juan Larios, Theo Walcott, and Alex McCarthy, with all of the players nursing injuries.
Manchester City academy graduate Gavin Bazunu will be stationed in the goal. A three-man backline consisting of Mohammed Salisu, Lyanco and Duje Caleta-Car will be resisting the Manchester City attack.
Kyle Walker-Pieters and Romain Perraud will serve as the two wing-backs, while James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia will feature in the middle of the park. Che Adams and former Manchester City attacker Sam Edozie will be positioned on the flanks, while Adam Armstrong will lead the line for Southampton.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Bazunu; Caleta-Car, Lyanco, Salisu; Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Perraud; Adams, Adam Armstrong, Edozie
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola rested a number of first-team players, including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. And the duo will likely be involved in some capacity against Southampton. Jack Grealish was not available for the Chelsea clash but should be fit ahead of this clash.
Stefan Ortega should keep his place in the goal, with Manchester City lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. Aymeric Laporte managed the full ninety minutes against Chelsea. But the Spanish international should be kept fresh for the upcoming Manchester derby.
John Stones and Manuel Akanji will thus get the nod at the heart of the Manchester City defence, while Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis will complete the defensive unit. Kalvin Phillips had a few good minutes under his belt and should start this game in Rodri’s position.
Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan will be stationed in the midfield to provide balance to the side. Julian Alvarez will likely lead the line, with Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish supporting him from the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Stones, Ake; Phillips, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish
Key Stats
- Southampton have managed just one win in their last 15 outings against Manchester City.
- Southampton have been eliminated from seven of their eight quarter-final appearances in the Carabao Cup.
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last six matches.
- At St. Mary’s, Manchester City have won nine times, while the home side has four victories and five matches have been drawn.
- Manchester City have leaked 40 goals against Southampton in the last 38 matches. They have netted 70 goals in this period.
Player to Watch
Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez has reignited his career with some brilliant bits of football recently, and he can be far more dangerous if he is given more room to capitalise. The Algerian playmaker can be used severely as games are coming fast and thick. Amid widespread rumours linking Manchester City with Rafael Leao, Mahrez has the opportunity to nail down his berth.
Prediction
Southampton 0-3 Manchester City
The relegation strugglers do not have the required armoury to inflict some damage on the reigning English champions. Despite not having several players available, Manchester City had hardly any problems against Chelsea. And the home side can only hope for a miracle to overcome Pep Guardiola’s charges on Wednesday.
