Predicted Man City XI to face Southampton in the Premier League
Man City stormed 3-1 past Southampton on Tuesday night to cement their place in the last eight of the competition and they will once again be strong favourites to come away with all three points when they play host to the Saints for a double-header in the Premier League on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s side are six points adrift of pace-setters Liverpool and they will be looking to make it six in a row against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, having won each of their last five Premier League clashes with the Saints.
Meanwhile, Southampton will be desperate to stop the rut after an ignominious 9-0 hammering against Leicester City last week but they will be up against it once again when they return to the Etihad on Saturday.
Team News
Oleksandr Zinchenko (knee), Rodrigo Hernandez (thigh), Leroy Sane (knee) and Aymeric Laporte (knee) are all ruled out for the weekend encounter while Angelino is also unlikely to feature after picking up a knock in the EFL Cup game.
Fernandinho, who was sent off against Aston Villa last week, will be back in contention after serving a one-match ban.
Predicted XI
Formation: 4-3-3
Ederson Moraes (GK)
The Brazilian has been the undisputed first-choice for Guardiola between the sticks and he will definitely replace Claudio Bravo, who played in the midweek fixture.
Joao Cancelo (RB)
Kyle Walker started the EFL Cup tie, so the Portuguese international could be amongst the starters at the weekend.
John Stones (CB)
The England international should be fresh and ready to start against the Saints after being rested for the midweek fixture.
Fernandinho (CB)
The veteran has looked quite confident in an unfamiliar role at the heart of the defence and Guardiola could once again give him the nod ahead of Otamendi, who played on Tuesday.
Benjamin Mendy (LB)
With Zinchenko serving a spell on the sidelines, the Frenchman has worked his way back into the playing eleven and he is expected to feature once again in the Premier League on Saturday.
Ilkay Gundogan (CDM)
Academy prospect Thomas Doyle played in the No.6 role on Tuesday but the German international is likely to play in that position this weekend, with Fernandinho expected to shift to central defence.
Kevin de Bruyne (RAM)
The Belgian has already racked up 9 assists in the Premier League this season and he will be looking to add more to his tally.
David Silva (LAM)
Phil Foden was handed a start in the cup game but the Spanish wizard has been amongst the undisputed starters in the Premier League and is expected to return to the eleven.
Raheem Sterling (LW)
The jet-heeled England international has already racked up 7 goals in the Premier League this term and Saturday’s fixture looks like a presentable opportunity for him to add more to that tally.
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Bernardo Silva (RW)
The Portuguese international started on the right-hand side of a midfield three against the Saints in the cup game but he is likely to play as a part of the forward line to accommodate De Bruyne.
Gabriel Jesus (ST)
The Brazilian started alongside Aguero in a wide role on Tuesday but he is expected to spearhead the attack in the Premier League, with Guardiola likely to keep the Argentine fresh for the trip to Atalanta in the Champions League next week.
