A big game for Southampton and a huge test for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men.
The Saints’ will play as hosts to last season’s Premier League champions Manchester City at St Mary’s, in what will be the club’s second home game since the temporary suspension of the 2019/20 campaign.
From their first three games back, Southampton have managed to claim six points and have hit the 40-point mark in 14th place, which typically means it is enough for them to maintain their top-flight status.
After their 3-1 win last time out against Watford, here is the starting XI we think will line-up against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Hasenhuttl should stick to his traditional 4-4-2 system that was so successful against the Hornets at Vicarage Road. A standard case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Although we expect three changes from that afternoon’s victory.
We expect one change from the back five players, with Jack Stephens taking the place of Jannik Vestergaard. Kyle Walker-Peters should keep his place in the team after he recently extended his loan spell at the club until the end of the current campaign.
How will Southampton get on against Manchester City?
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Nathan Redmond, Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse should keep their places in the side, with the only being that Will Smallbone will make way for Stuart Armstrong, who was dropped to the bench last time out.
We predict another change up a the top of the pitch, with Michael Obafemi coming back in for Shane Long after he was substituted after 75 minutes following his ineffective performance.
