Southampton vs Manchester City Preview: Saints up against it at home

Southampton return to St Mary’s on Sunday evening to face Manchester City and will be looking for another positive result.

A 3-1 win against Watford last weekend will have given a confidence boost to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, who are almost safe from relegation and free to show what they can do between now and the end of the campaign.

They will be the underdogs against City though, who continue to be one of the most feared teams in the country despite surrendering the title to Liverpool.

The previous league meeting between the two sides may give an indication as to how this match will play out once the first whistle is blown.

Saints sat back and managed to grab an early goal through James Ward-Prowse, but they could not hold on and eventually lost 2-1 after two late strikes from City

Team News

Saints will be able to welcome both Moussa Djenepo and Jack Stephens back from suspension for tomorrow’s game, and both could realistically start.

Ralph Hasenhuttl could be without five first-team players though. Each of Jannik Vestergaard, Sofiane Boufal, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yan Valery and Nathan Tella have injury problems to contend with.

Manchester City will be without striker Sergio Aguero who is currently undergoing treatment for a knee injury that he picked up recently.

All other options are available to Pep Guardiola as he welcomes Fernandinho back from suspension, and rotation is a possibility after City’s game against Liverpool on Thursday.

More from Saints Marching

• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

Why Saints could win

Playing a team of City’s standard will be a completely different test for Saints in comparison to previous games, but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have been in very good form.

Displays against Norwich and then Watford last Sunday saw some flowing, attacking football and produced two wins, but they will now be keen to transfer these showings to their home turf at St Mary’s.

A 2-0 defeat to Arsenal there last time out was disappointing, and it will be vital for Saints to get their home form sorted in the run in and ahead of next season.

Their ability to produce dangerous attacks on the counter could be a recipe for success tomorrow if they also defend resolutely.

Why City could win

The 2019/20 season has seen City slip well behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race but they got some sort of revenge on Thursday with a comprehensive 4-0 win over the Reds.

Squad depth is not an issue for Pep Guardiola and he has enough world class talent to fill his team twice, and Saints will know what they will be up against tomorrow evening.

City will dominate possession like they always do and they also have the clever football brains in and around the areas to play through what could be a deep Saints defence.

Predicted starting line-ups

SAINTS

Alex McCarthy, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond, Stuart Armstrong, Danny Ings, Shane Long

MANCHESTER CITY

Ederson, Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy, Fernandinho, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus

Predicted score

Saints 2-2 Manchester City