How Manchester City Will Line Up Against Southampton
Has the away hoodoo been banished with the 3-2 victory at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night? We're about to find out.
Following just a second away league victory of the season, which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested, Manchester City head for Southampton on Saturday for what could easily be regarded as one of their biggest games of the season so far.
With Arsenal not in action until Sunday and facing a tough game at home to a high-flying Everton side who just won at Old Trafford, this represents a golden chance for City to halve their deficit to the league leaders to just three points.
The win at West Bromwich Albion added further credence to the belief that Manuel Pellegrini's side are hitting their stride at the moment, but they'll need a positive result here to further those claims.
Southampton remain an impressive side, but they've now lost each of their last three games. While defeats at Arsenal and Chelsea were somewhat expected, the reverse at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday will have shocked Mauricio Pochettino.
Now, his fellow South American Pellegrini has a chance to prolong that agony, and the trip to the south coast could see the Chilean make a couple of changes from that West Brom victory.
Here is a predicted City starting XI.
Costel Pantilimon
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The Romanian is still the preferred choice of Pellegrini, although it would be have been interesting to see the reaction had it been Joe Hart who scored the luckless own goal Costel Pantilimon saw go in off him at West Brom.
Hart conceded three times as City lost 3-1 at Southampton last season. While his former understudy will be entering the contest without the negative vibes the England man would have, it is still a curious sight to see him as City's No. 1 goalkeeper.
Against the likes of Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Pablo Osvaldo, this is probably Pantilimon's toughest test so far, and it's one he needs to pass.
Pablo Zabaleta
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The clash at The Hawthorns saw City's Mr. Consistent complete 90 minutes in the Premier League for the 12th time in his club's 14 games this season.
The Argentinian's form remains the main reason we're seeing less and less of Micah Richards in a City shirt these days, but Richards really can't have many complaints given the quality of the player ahead of him in his position.
The game at West Brom saw Pablo Zabaleta get forward to assist a goal for the second time in as many games, and at Southampton, he'll be a key man again as an added element to the City attack.
Martin Demichelis
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Having played under Pellegrini successfully at Malaga, Martin Demichelis is a player who knows he has the confidence of his manager.
That trust is a mutual thing too. The 37-times-capped Argentina international has been a reliable and experienced head to call upon during what could have been times of trouble for the club.
He'll be 33 later this month, and it is that level of experience City have banked on in the absence of Matija Nastasic and uncertainty surrounding Joleon Lescott.
Vincent Kompany
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City fans had waited a long time for the return of their skipper, and they finally got to see him in action at West Brom on Wednesday.
Vincent Kompany's return to first-team action after limping off in the 3-1 win over Everton in early October was greatly received, and it looked as though it was going to end in a clean sheet for the visitors prior to the mad final few minutes, which saw the hosts score twice.
Most importantly, though, City's Belgian captain was able to get through 90 minutes unscathed. With the challenges they have ahead of them, that could be more and more crucial for the club with each passing week.
Gael Clichy
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Gael Clichy had a night off against West Brom, but he remains the club's first-choice left-back for Premier League assignments and should return in place of Aleksandar Kolarov at Southampton.
The Frenchman was part of the defence that was battered by the Saints during the 3-1 victory for the home team the last time these teams met on the south coast, so there will be a degree of revenge in the air.
As he'd tell you though, the three points will be most important.
Fernandinho
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Still proving quietly effective in the City midfield, Fernandinho has played the full 90 minutes in nine of the last 10 league matches.
The only one he missed was the miserable 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. The result can't quite be looked at as a direct consequence of his absence, but it certainly didn't help.
The Brazilian will be back at the centre of things and looking to keep things ticking again. He'll hope to avoid the fate suffered by defensive midfielder Gareth Barry in this fixture in February, when the Englishman scored an embarrassing own goal.
Yaya Toure
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After scoring just once in the previous seven matches in the league, Yaya Toure was back on the goal trail at West Brom and grabbed two.
The three minutes the Ivorian was off the pitch at the end of the game were the only three minutes of Premier League football he's missed for City this season, and he'll once again be a key man as his club head into a game they know could be a vital one.
With Toure in their side, they'll have every chance of winning it.
Jesus Navas
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Allegations of underperforming away from home have dogged Jesus Navas throughout his career, but at West Brom, he managed to complete 90 minutes of Premier League football away from the Etihad Stadium for the very first time.
The Tottenham win remains the high point of his career in England to date, but against a stylish, attack-minded Southampton team, he might find some space on the flanks to exploit and use to his advantage.
He could be an outlet for his team to rely on.
Samir Nasri
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He didn't get on the scoresheet at West Brom and was withdrawn shortly after the third goal, but Samir Nasri again turned in a clever, competent performance to go alongside the many others he's produced this season.
The Frenchman has now started 10 of the last 11 in the league. Although the absence of David Silva because of injury has helped somewhat, he does appear to have gotten himself into a position from which Pellegrini might consider him undroppable.
Nasri scored a late winner as City came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 on the opening day of last season, and he could be vitally important again.
Sergio Aguero
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After missing out in the win over Swansea, Sergio Aguero scored a customary goal early in the victory at West Brom.
The feats of Luis Suarez in Liverpool's win over Norwich might have seen Aguero's fellow South American surpass him in the Premier League goalscoring charts, but that won't bother the Argentinean, who will be hungry for even more goals, as he was withdrawn before the penalty City got at The Hawthorns.
Toure took over the duties with Aguero off the pitch, but if they get one at St. Mary's, you can bet it'll be City's premier forward who steps up.
Alvaro Negredo
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Edin Dzeko was given his first Premier League start in eight games in the clash at The Hawthorns, but he failed to impress, so you'd have to suspect Alvaro Negredo will return to the fold here.
The Spaniard watched on from the bench in the Midlands despite a run of eight goals in his previous seven games, but like many City players, he'll be keen to improve his output away from home, and this clash is a perfect place to start.
After a one-match break, the No. 9 will be eager to resume his partnership with Aguero, and that could spell trouble for the Saints.
Ready in Reserve
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Seemingly destined for a return to the bench following West Brom, Dzeko is once again likely to be left watching on as Aguero, Negredo and teammates go for goals.
James Milner, Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell all made appearances from the bench at The Hawthorns, with the latter featuring in just his second Premier League game of the season. All will seemingly remain on the sidelines here along with goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is getting used to them by now.
How the Lineup Will Look
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After making a couple of changes at West Brom, perhaps Pellegrini will return to a more tried and tested approach for the clash at Southampton.
The return of Kompany is, of course, key to City's hopes for the weeks and months ahead. We could see Clichy and Negredo come back into the side here, with Kolarov and Dzeko bowing out.
In a game that suddenly looks so important for their long-term ambitions, City will be determined to boost their number of away league wins this season from two to three.
With this formation and the personnel playing within it, they could very well do just that.
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