Manchester City will look to continue their rampant form when they welcome strugglers Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League.
The Sky Blues are unbeaten this season and are coming off a stunning victory in the Champions League, where they dominated Danish champions FC Copenhagen in midweek. Prior to that, they proved too hot to handle for neighbours Manchester United as they won the derby 6-3 at home.
Pep Guardiola and co. will go as overwhelming favourites into the weekend fixture against Southampton, who are sitting outside of the relegation zone by just two points.
Manchester City Team News
Kyle Walker has undergone a successful groin surgery that should keep him out for weeks now. John Stones sustained a thigh injury in the recent international break and has already been ruled out of the game.
Predicted Man City Lineup vs Southampton (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Ederson is expected to start between the sticks for the upcoming clash. The Brazilian shot-stopper would look to put up a solid performance and secure a clean sheet on Saturday.
Defence
Pep Guardiola will revert to his usual 4-3-3 system at the weekend after using 4-4-2 against FC Copenhagen. Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte played the full 90 minutes in the midweek Champions League fixture, while Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake started as centre-backs in the Manchester derby.
With Guardiola appearing to favour selecting a left-footed centre-back to provide balance at the heart of City’s defence, Laporte should get the nod ahead of Ake to start alongside Akanji in the Man City lineup.
Following Kyle Walker’s groin surgery, Joao Cancelo is expected to have a run of games at right-back with young Sergi Gomez slotting in at left-back in the Man City lineup.
Midfield
Guardiola could welcome back Rodri to the starting XI against Southampton. Rodri missed the Manchester derby through injury but returned to the squad against FC Copenhagen and was an unused substitute. The Spaniard should be ready to start in midfield in the Man City lineup, with Ilkay Gundogan likely dropping to the bench.
Kevin de Bruyne is a sure-shot starter today after being rested against FC Copenhagen. Bernardo Silva will complete Man City’s midfield three, as the Portuguese along with De Bruyne, will have to carry most of the creative burden for their team at the attacking end of the field.
Attack
The gifted trio of Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden will form Man City’s attack. Haaland is breathing fire at the moment, and fresh from a brace against Copenhagen, he will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Southampton.
Grealish and Foden will take up the wide positions, causing menace for Guardiola’s Sky Blues down the left and right flank, respectively. Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer could be brought off the bench in the second half if needed.