Southampton’s seven-game unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an end with a 1-0 loss to Italian giants Inter Milan on Thursday in the Europa League. Claude Puel’s boys played pretty well as the manager rested a few of his key players in the game probably taking the Sunday game against Manchester City into account.
The Saints will travel to Etihad on Sunday to take on top of the table Manchester City who are in a mini-crisis after a sensational start to the season. However, their mini-crisis could pretty well transform into a major one if Southampton can come up with an upset which they are well capable of.
Two losses and two draws in their last four games in all competitions has raised the eyebrows of the fans from the Blue half of Manchester. Pep Guardiola’s honeymoon period in English football is over and an emphatic 0-4 loss to his former club Barcelona in the midweek in the Championship puts the Spaniard in a questionable place.
Guardiola will demand a strong comeback from his players while Puel will be looking to get back to winning ways with a major upset. Here is the predicted Southampton lineup against Manchester City.
Defence
English international Fraser Forster will start under the bar ahead of Alex McCarthy. First-choice right-back Cedric Soares is likely to miss the game with an injury meaning that Cuco Martina will have an extended run in the right-back position. The 27-year-old had an excellent game in the midweek against Inter Milan and will be keen to impress once again.
Skipper Jose Fonte was rested in the midweek game against Inter and the Portuguese international will definitely make his way back to the starting XI. Virgil van Dijk will keep his place at the back. Youngster Sam McQueen is likely to get his second consecutive start at left-back with Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett both out with injuries.
Midfield
Oriol Romeu has done an excellent job for the Saints this season at the base of the midfield diamond and should keep his place. Steven Davis and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg are likely to start as the two box to box midfielders. Club record signing Sofiane Boufal made his debut for the Saints off the bench against Inter in the midweek but Puel is unlikely to start the Moroccan against the mighty Sky Blues. Dusan Tadic will start at the tip of the midfield diamond.
Attack
Charlie Austin has done an excellent job this season up front having scored seven goals from 10 outings in all competitions. The Englishman will start up front for the Saints alongside Nathan Redmond who was rested in the midweek.
