Southampton vs. Manchester City: How the Blues Should Line Up in EPL Game

The recent international break came at the perfect time for Manchester City. Their form was faltering badly, and they had managed just one win in six. Their performances were so poor that it was difficult to see how they were going to stop the rot.

However, they’ve won two out of two since the break, including a dramatic—if somewhat unconvincing—3-2 win over Bayern Munich. Two Sergio Aguero goals in the final five minutes made for a wonderful finish, and City need to use that to kick-start their season.

They travel to the south coast on Sunday without David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko to face a Southampton side who sit second in the table after a marvellous first few months in the job for Ronald Koeman.

After selling a raft of star players in the summer, some had tipped them for relegation, but it’s talk of European qualification rather than demotion to the Championship that is now following Southampton. 

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PELLEGRINI: “No news about Silva, Kolarov or Dzeko – they will not be fit for this game. Everyone else is fit for this game." #MCFC

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) November 28, 2014"

City will continue with Joe Hart in goal. He will be disappointed with the way he set his wall up and the way in which Xabi Alonso’s low free-kick found the back of the net on Tuesday night, but overall, he’s been much improved this season and deserves his starting berth.

Pablo Zabaleta, who was somewhat surprisingly rested against Bayern, will likely return at right-back, with captain Vincent Kompany alongside him as the right-sided centre-back.

With Kolarov still out injured, Gael Clichy—whose form has been patchy, at best, this season—will continue at left-back, with a straight fight between Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala for the place alongside Komapny at the heart of the defence.

Mangala started and did well against Bayern, but Demichelis was unfortunate to miss out, given his exceptional displays, which go as far back as March.

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PELLEGRINI: “@SouthamptonFC are a good team with very good players and they’re playing very well. It’s no surprise they are where they are."

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) November 28, 2014"

In midfield, both Yaya Toure and Fernandinho were suspended in midweek and may well start in light of their rests, and given the 4-5-1 system appeared to yield better results against Bayern, Frank Lampard could continue in the role just behind the striker.

Lampard was superb again on Tuesday, and City will be desperate to keep him beyond his current deal, which is set to end in January. He may be 36, but his technical quality and ability to read the game mean he remains an excellent option for City.

Jesus Navas, James Milner and Samir Nasri are all in contention for the places on the wings, and Sergio Aguero, who has almost single-handedly carried City in recent weeks, will surely start up front.

Stevan Jovetic will have been buoyed by his cameo on Tuesday and will be an option from the bench if City need something a little different as the match wears on.

City XI (4-5-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho, Milner, Nasri, Lampard; Aguero.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.