Defending Premier League champions Manchester City face Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday, with the Saints coming off of a 9-0 drubbing at the hands of Leicester City in the league. The round of 16 tie is the first of two back-to-back matches that City and Southampton will play, with the former hosting the Saints on both occasions.
City cruised to a 3-0 win against Aston Villa over the weekend, and are expected to ease past Southampton as well. Manager Pep Guardiola could give opportunities to some of his younger players in the squad for the League Cup match.
Let’s take a look at the possible Manchester City lineup against Southampton:
PREDICTED MANCHESTER CITY LINEUP vs SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Claudio Bravo played for City in their first League Cup tie of the season against Preston North End, and he is expected to start once again, replacing Ederson in the Manchester City lineup.
Defence
Fernandinho is suspended for the game, having been sent off for two yellow cards against Aston Villa. Aymeric Laporte is still out due to injury, as is Rodri, who – like Fernandinho – was moved to the heart of the City defence recently.
Nicolas Otamendi could start for City, after being on the bench for the last game, and he could be joined by 18-year-old Spanish centre-back Eric García. John Stones, who started against Villa, is another option for Guardiola at the back, as is 17-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who started against Preston.
Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko will not be available for the match due to injury, while Benjamin Mendy could be rested, which means that Angelino could get a start at left-back, with Kyle Walker starting at right-back.
Midfield
Kevin De Bruyne could be given a rest after having recently returned to the side from injury, with Phil Foden starting in his place. Ilkay Gundogan will play in the holding midfield role, while Bernardo Silva could be the attacking midfield option in place of David Silva in the starting XI.
Attack
Sergio Aguero was a second-half substitute against Villa but he should start, replacing Gabriel Jesus. Raheem Sterling could start on the left, with Riyad Mahrez starting from the right in the Manchester City lineup.
