Man City vs Southampton F.C. Lineups
Pep Guardiola’s men will be aiming to close the gap on Arsenal in the race for the top spot as they face Southampton at St Mary’s. With a Champions League date with Bayern Munich, they’ll be desperate to get their win streak up to eight.
Man City can close the gap on Arsenal to five points with a win at Southampton this weekend. Here’s how we think they could line up against Ruben Selles’ side.
Man City XI: Ederson
Manchester City have roared toward the top of the Premier League table as Pep Guardiola’s men extend their unbeaten run to seven matches. They beat Liverpool 4-1 in their last outing and now head to St Mary’s to take on Southampton – a desperate team who have lost their past four games (D2, L2) under Ruben Selles.
Ederson is expected to remain at the heart of the City defense, as the Brazilian has been excellent since joining Benfica in 2016. He’s also performed well in the midfield, linking up with Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva.
Akanji
The 27-year-old Swiss defender has been in great form this season. He started the first three Premier League games and played in every match of Switzerland’s World Cup campaign.
He was rested for the midweek win over Copenhagen and will be expected to start against Southampton. He also impressed with a goal against Manchester United and has logged two clean sheets and seven tackles won since joining City in the summer.
It’s a very interesting time for Man City, who have a strong chance of winning the title if they continue their current streak of winning each of their next 11 matches in all competitions. They hope to continue this run against a struggling Southampton side on Saturday, which has seen them lose their last five games.
Dias
Dias is one of the season’s standout players, and his impact has been a major part of Manchester City’s incredible run this term. The Portuguese defender has improved the back line of Pep Guardiola’s side by no end, and he looks set to remain a regular starter for the rest of the season.
Ruben Dias is a huge player for Manchester City and has been a massive success since his arrival in the summer of 2020. His impact has been nothing short of amazing, and he has been one of the best defenders in world football since moving to the Premier League. He is a key member of the man City XI and will be a vital player for Guardiola’s side for many years.
Ake
Nathan Ake is one of the most influential players in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side this season. His performance against Wolves last week sparked a huge turnaround in City’s form and could earn him a starting place against Arsenal on Saturday.
He is in his third season at City and has won the Premier League and Carabao Cup. He has also represented the Netherlands national team since 2017.
A good player, Ake is highly valued by his teammates and the coaching staff at Manchester City for his professionalism and work ethic. He has also been known to donate his time to some causes.
He could potentially miss the trip to Arsenal due to a groin injury, but he remains a starter for the team and looks in great shape ahead of their Champions League return. If he does miss out, it will be an immense blow for Pep.
Stones
In recent weeks, Man City captain John Stones has been a revelation in the new midfield role that Pep Guardiola has implemented for him. His commanding performance against Bayern Munich helped the Blues take a step toward the Champions League semi-finals, as he was awarded the match’s Man of the Match award.
He’s been a big part of the XI since he joined on the transfer market this summer from Everton and is proving to be one of the best defenders in world football. He’s been dribbled past just twice in 1360 minutes of Premier League action this season, ranking him among the top five defenders in the league.
The England international is showing that his new role doesn’t come naturally and is thriving with complete trust from Guardiola. Having recently started 10-straight games, he’s likely to return to the starting XI for Saturday’s Manchester derby.
Rodri
Pep Guardiola’s man city is still hunting for the top spot in the Premier League as they look to close the gap on leaders Arsenal. They face bottom-placed Southampton on Saturday in a match that could prove pivotal to the club’s title ambitions.
The Saints, meanwhile, are in crisis as they remain stuck in the relegation zone after losing to West Ham last week. Interim head coach Ruben Selles is unlikely to change the starting lineup, with Valentino Livramento, Che Adams, Mohamed Salisu, and Armel Bella-Kotchap all sidelined through injury.
There will be no change to their defense line with Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Duje Caleta-Car, and Romain Perraud. Romeo Lavia and Carlos Alvarez will battle for the central midfield spots alongside captain and top scorer James Ward-Prowse. Theo Walcott and Sekou Mara will lead the attack.
Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez is a key part of Manchester City’s attack, and his first touch and close control are unrivaled in the Premier League. He is a natural goal-scorer on either wing, and since moving to City, he has become far more confident playing from his right foot.
He is now up to 10 goals in all competitions this season, including three assists and a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup. He is a big reason City have won six out of their last seven games, including last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Liverpool.
Man City are still in a strong position to challenge Arsenal for the title and can move back within five points of their rivals with a win at Southampton today. But Guardiola will likely make some changes in his first match since last week’s win against Liverpool.
De Bruyne
De Bruyne is one of the most talented and creative midfielders in the world, known for his range of passing and dribbling abilities. Since joining City in 2015, he has raised his game and has become an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
He is one of the quickest players to reach 100 assists in Premier League history, and the Belgian International has been key to City’s domestic success. He has won four Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups, and an F.A. Cup for the club.
He has also scored 26 goals for Belgium and helped them reach the quarter-finals of the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. He is widely considered one of the best players in the world and will be looking to continue his good form against Southampton.
Gundogan
Ilkay Gundogan is one of the most exciting midfielders in the world, and his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2016 was a big moment for Pep Guardiola’s side. He’s become a key part of City’s attack and has been instrumental in helping the club win back-to-back Premier League titles.
He’s also helped Manchester City fight back from a long-term injury to playmaker Kevin de Bruyne and has established himself as one of the team’s most consistent performers in the Premier League.
He’s also a key member of the German national team and is crucial to Germany’s preparation for the World Cup. He’s still 32 years old and has a lot of games left in him to prove himself.
Haaland
Pep Guardiola’s men will be hoping to make it three wins out of four when they face Southampton f.c. on Saturday, looking to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive.
Manchester City hopes to build momentum on the South Coast with another win over Saints, who have struggled this season. They are a strong favorite for this game, and it would be an excellent way to gain some much-needed momentum ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Sunday.
Haaland will be in the heart of the attack for this game, as he’s known for his pace and movement on the ball. He can also deliver accurate long passes to the left flank and swiftly drag defenders around.
