Southampton vs Manchester City preview

By Ric Turner, Fri 29 April 2016 14:45


Southampton vs Manchester City previewPellegrini expected to ring changes, as Silva and Toure miss out through injury

Southampton vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 1st May 2016

Venue: St Mary's Stadium, Southampton

Referee: Andre Marriner Assistants: J Brooks, P Kirkup Fourth Official: A Taylor

Odds: Southampton 12/5, Draw 7/4, City 6/4. View other Manchester City Odd Comparisons.

Tickets: On sale via www.mcfc.co.uk

TV: Sky Sports 1

Southampton

Manager: Ronald Koeman

Squad (from): Davis, Forster, Stekelenburg, Cedric, Yoshida, Fonte, Martina, van Dijk, Bertrand, Targett, Clasie, Davis, Tadic, Wanyama, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Long, Rodriguez, Mane, Pelle, Juanmi, Austin

Injured: Gardos

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDWLWW

Manchester City

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Fernando, Nasri, Navas, Sterling, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho

Injured: Toure, Silva

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDWWWL

David Silva and Yaya Toure are the only absentees as City travel to St Mary's looking to cement their place in the top four. However, with a huge midweek game looming against Real Madrid, Manuel Pellegrini will be looking to rotate his squad as the season reaches its climax.

Pellegrini said: “We have two different competitions - one is the Premier League where we want to be as near to the top of the table as we can and the other is to try and reach that final.

“The best way to play on Wednesday is to play well and win on Sunday.

“I said before we knew we were going to play eight games in 30 days which is a lot for this squad so I’m making rotations in every game we play.

“I don’t understand why having so many games in this league with so much interest why we cannot play 24 hours earlier - at least the same as Real Madrid. It’s not for me to say and there’s a lot of things like the rights of TV, so I don’t know.

“As a manager you always want to have all of the options - we’re representing England and the Premier League in the Champions League - at least you don’t want to give an advantage to the other team."

City's last away game at St Mary's ended in a 3-0 victory, with Yaya Toure, frank Lampard and Gael Clichy getting the goals. Overall City have won 29 of the 83 games played against Southampton, with 24 draws and 30 defeats.

Prediction: Southampton 1 City 1

Next fixtures:
Manchester City vs Arsenal
Swansea vs Manchester City