Nathan Ake will deputise despite the sad passing of his father earlier in the week
Manchester City vs Southampton
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 3.00 pm, Saturday 18th September 2021
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Jonathan Moss Assistants: M Perry, T Wood Fourth Official: P Bankes VAR: A Marriner
Odds: City 1/8, Draw 8/1, Southampton 16/1
TV: Match of the Day
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Carson, Slicker, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Palmer, Sterling, Jesus, Torres, Mahrez
Injured: Steffen
Doubtful: Stones, Laporte, Delap
Suspended: Mendy
Form guide: LWWWW
Southampton
Manager: Daniel Farke
Squad (from): McCarthy, Lewis, Forster, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Perraud, Small, Livramento, Salisu, Bednarek, Valery, Romeo, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Djenepo, Smallbone, Tella, Elyounoussi, Diallo, Long, Armstrong, Adams, Walcott
Injured: Armstrong
Doubtful: Walcott, Smallbone
Suspended: None
Form guide: LDWDD
City will be without defensive duo John Stones and Aymeric Laporte for the visit of Southampton, Pep Guardiola confirmed at Friday's press conference. The pair missed the midweek game against RB Leipzig, and are expected to be out for at least ten days. Nathan Ake will continue to deputise, despite sadly losing his father earlier in the week.
“[They are] injured. [It’s] muscular,” said Guardiola.
“John Stones didn't play with us and then played 90 mins with national team and came back injured and Laporte came back with a little disturbance, some niggles.
“He wanted to play against Leicester, made an extraordinary game, but after his niggles were worse and we did not want to take a risk.
“I don't know [if they will play] against Wycombe or Chelsea but hopefully they can be ready after.”
City won their last home league game against Southampton 5-2, with Kevin De Bruyne (2), Riyad Mahrez (2) and Ilkay Gundogan scoring for the Blues. Overall City have won 38 of the 95 games played against the Saints, with 25 draws and 32 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Sterling, Foden, Jesus
Score prediction: City 3 Southampton 1