Guardiola in bullish mood as Blues enter "business end" of the season
Southampton vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Cup
Date: 3.00pm, Sunday 20th March 2022
Venue: St Mary's Stadium, Southampton
Referee: Mike Dean Assistants: I Hussin, E Smart Fourth Official: S Hooper VAR: A Marriner
Odds: Southampton 17/2, Draw 4/1, City 3/10
Tickets: Sold out
TV: BBC One
Southampton
Manager: Ralph Hassenhütl
Squad (from): Caballero, Lewis, Forster, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Perraud, Livramento, Small, Salisu, Bednarek, Valery, Romeo, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Djenepo, Armstrong, Tella, Elyounoussi, Diallo, Long, Armstrong, Adams, Broja, Walcott
Injured: McCarthy, Lyanco
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWLLL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Carson, Slicker, Walker, Stones, Ake, Laporte, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, McAtee, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez
Injured: Dias
Doubtful: Palmer
Suspended: Mendy
Form guide: WWWDD
City drew their last away game at St Mary's 1-1, with Aymeric Laportes coring for the Blues. Overall City have won 38 of the 97 games played against the Saints, with 27 draws and 32 defeats.
Ruben Dias is again missing with a thigh problem, but City have no new injury concerns ahead of the clash at St Mary's. Manager Pep Guardiola is anticipating a difficult game agianst Ralf Hassenhutl's side, having failed to win either league fixture this season.
“I know how difficult Southampton away will be. We have to prepare, travel well and compete well and go forward”, he said at Friday's press conference.
“I would love to do what we have done so far. [We have to focus on the] details we will play against Southampton - they shape and move differently like Crystal Palace and you have to adapt to the movement they do.
“Like I said before: in the last two months, we know every game is a Final now – in the Premier League of course, and the Champions League and Sunday.
“We have to be ourselves and to every player, be yourself.”
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Foden
Score prediction: Southampton 1 City 2