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Manchester City vs Southampton: Breaking team news and line-ups

By Marc Walker

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) on the touchline at the final whistle of the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on December 19, 2020. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (R) on the touchline at the final whistle of the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on December 19, 2020. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Southampton face a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening but will be looking to come away with a positive result.

A 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday provided the boost that Saints needed with a number of crucial games upcoming. It was an entirely different test to facing the league leaders tonight but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will need to make an impression nonetheless if they are to avoid a heavy defeat.

City were on a 20-game winning run before their loss to rivals Manchester United at the weekend but still have the world-class quality throughout their squad to respond in an emphatic way.

They will know another three points inches them closer to another Premier League title, whilst Saints will take a huge step towards mathematical safety if they pull off a shock.

Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek of Southampton (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek of Southampton (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

Ahead of today’s match, team news was confirmed by respective managers Ralph Hasenhuttl and Pep Guardiola.

Hasenhuttl will be without striker Danny Ings for around three weeks after the 28-year-old picked up an injury against Sheffield United last time out. Ings is likely to return to action later this month or at the beginning of April – a similar timeframe given to Theo Walcott.

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The Saints boss also suggested that he would rotate his team to face City with a number of important games to be played before the international break at the end of this month.

Pep Guardiola confirmed that he has a fully fit squad to choose from as his team prepare to face Saints.

Some rotation is to be expected from City too with them looking at a run of four games in the next 10 days, but significant options throughout their squad mean it will still be a tough task for Saints.

Confirmed Man City line-up

Starting 11: Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden

Subs: Zack Steffen, John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero, Rodri, Ferran Torres, Joao Cancelo

Confirmed Saints line-up

Starting 11: Alex McCarthy, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Mohammed Salisu, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand, James Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong, Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Redmond, Che Adams

Subs: Fraser Forster, Kyle Walker-Peters, Kayne Ramsay, Ibrahima Diallo, Will Ferry, Caleb Watts, Nathan Tella, Takumi Minamino, Dan N’Lundulu

Manchester City do not field a recognised striker but have a whole squad of options available to them if they need to use them.

Saints make six changes and look to be using a 5-4-1 system in a bid to grind out a result.

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