Manchester City will return to home comforts in the Premier League as they take on a struggling Southampton side seeking their first win.
Pep Guardiola might have been the most relieved man on the pitch last Sunday when John Stones came to his rescue with a late winner against Wolves. Manchester City continued to attack the opposition, who proved their resilience until the very end, but eventually, the champions took the three points back to Manchester, with Southampton their next opponent.
It was another game in which Manchester City conceded a goal, as there were question marks about their ability to keep a clean sheet. The late Stones winner raised some questions about whether Bernardo Silva was blocking keeper Jose Sa, but VAR cleared it in the end.
Manchester City followed that up with a big win in the UEFA Champions League against Sparta Prague, beating the Czech outfit 5-0. That should tune them well for the weekend’s action against a struggling Southampton side, as Guardiola’s side are the clear favourites to take three points at the Etihad.
The Southampton players will be kicking themselves for their performances of late, and the defeat to Leicester City showcased their problems. The Saints do not have a problem playing attractive football or creating chances, but it’s the defence that is proving to be a problem.
Last weekend, Southampton looked on course to secure their first win of the campaign when they went two goals ahead in the first half. Leicester City then staged a dramatic comeback that concluded with a winner from Jordan Ayew deep into second-half second-half injury time, which truly showcased the character of the Saints in the top flight.
Had that gone in another direction, Russell Martin’s side would have come to the Etihad with the confidence needed at this venue. Instead, Southampton will visit Manchester City under tremendous pressure to deliver performances worthy of a positive result, which does seem unlikely on paper.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola will have to make do without wide attackers Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish. The pair missed the midweek clash with a muscular problem and a knock, respectively. The pair joins Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Oscar Bobb on the sidelines while the others are all available.
Ruben Dias could return to the starting lineup in place of Manuel Akanji, as John Stones has made it difficult to drop him following his goalscoring form in consecutive games now. Josko Gvardiol is also expected to replace Nathan Ake at left-back, while Rico Lewis will keep his place on the right side as he continues to deputise for the injured Walker.
In the absence of two left-wingers for the Southampton clash, Savinho could move to that wing, which will let Guardiola use Bernardo Silva on the right. Phil Foden could start in the attacking midfield role alongside Ilkay Gundogan, while Mateo Kovacic should retain his place in the holding role despite Matheus Nunes pushing very hard to stake a claim there.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Gundogan, Savinho; Haaland
Southampton
Russell Martin does have some players missing ahead of this crunch trip to the Etihad, with Ryan Fraser suspended owing to his sending-off against Leicester City and a few others through injury issues. Of those, Gavin Bazunu is a long-term absentee, while Ross Stewart and William Smallbone are missing through muscular and hamstring problems, respectively.
Yukinari Sugawara is another player with question marks about his participation on Saturday after coming off early against Leicester City. Southampton will be able to welcome back Jack Stephens following his three-game suspension against Manchester City, as he could replace Sugawara to join Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis in that back three.
Cameron Archer’s goalscoring form will continue to keep the misfiring Ben Brereton Diaz on the bench for the time being. At the same time, Joe Aribo, Flynn Downes and Matues Fernandes are all pencilled in to start in the midfield.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Stephens, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis; Walker-Peters, Aribo, Downes, Fernandes, Manning; Dibling, Archer
Key Stats
- Manchester City are undefeated in their last 31 matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have scored at least two goals in 16 of their last 17 matches in the Premier League.
- Southampton have failed to win their last 21 matches in the Premier League.
- Southampton have won just once in 14 fixtures against Manchester City in the Premier League.
- Josko Gvardiol has scored five goals in his last seven away league appearances. He has also scored a league-high six goals by a defender in 2024.
Player to Watch
Phil Foden
Foden is entering a crucial period of his season, as he now seems fit enough to start influencing games. The attacking star has had a tough period since the stellar end to last season, as his bad performances for England at the Euros still seem to linger in his head.
The Englishman did get an assist for John Stones’s winner last weekend before getting on the scoresheet during midweek in the Champions League. Overall, he looks like he is heading in the right direction in terms of gaining his sharpness, and soon enough, Foden will begin influencing games like he did last season, which could ideally start against Southampton.
Prediction
Manchester City 4-1 Southampton
Southampton have shown a knack for scoring goals, and that might continue even at a venue like the Etihad against Manchester City. However, their defensive setup might be an easy pick for Manchester City attackers, as they are about to face one of the most potent attacking units in the division.
Manchester City will be eager to gain an upper hand in the league standings, and a win here would temporarily take them to the top. They also need their striker Erling Haaland and players like Phil Foden firing on all cylinders, which might be the case, as Pep Guardiola’s side are expected to take an emphatic victory and the three points.