Southampton vs. Manchester City: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Southampton can dent Manchester City's bid to finish in the top four of the Premier League by winning at St. Mary's Stadium on Saturday. To do so, the Saints must slow down a red-hot City attack, including on-form striker Sergio Aguero.
The Citizens will need their forward line to continue firing, because manager Pep Guardiola may have to juggle his personnel defensively amid fitness concerns.
Before a preview and a look at the team news, here are the schedule and viewing details:
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Date: Saturday, April 15
Time: 5:30 p.m. BST; 12:30 p.m. ET.
TV Info: BT Sport 1, NBC.
Live Stream: BT Sport app, NBC Sports app.
Preview
Guardiola's main concern involves the fitness of centre-backs John Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov. The manager is awaiting updates on the pair's health at the time of writing, according to the Daily Telegraph.
If there are issues with Stones or Kolarov, Guardiola could turn to Vincent Kompany. The oft-injured yet still brilliant defender continues to struggle for fitness, but he has featured a few times recently.
It's not just in the middle where City's defence may need to be reshuffled. There are also issues on the flanks, where right-back Bacary Sagna remains out with a muscle problem, per Goal's Sam Lee.
The same source also revealed how Southampton holding midfielder Oriol Romeu will miss out through suspension. Romeu's absence is a big blow for Saints boss Claude Puel.
Former Barcelona and Chelsea man Romeu has been arguably the most accomplished defensive midfielder in the Premier League this season. The Spaniard combines positional discipline and precise and tough tackling with quality technique on the ball.
Without Romeu at the base of midfield, the Saints could concede too much space to City schemers Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva. The latter has been in exceptional form lately, with team-mate Fabian Delph recently declaring the 31-year-old the "best player in the Premier League by a country mile," per Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News.
Silva's wizardry could undermine a Southampton back line still missing Virgil van Dijk. However, the Saints have made a habit of making things tricky for the Citizens in recent years.
The club won this fixture 4-2 last May and took a point off City after a 1-1 draw at Manchester's Etihad Stadium earlier this season.
Southampton will also be boosted by the return of skilled striker Manolo Gabbiadini. Puel said the Italian could be in the squad for Saturday, per Reuters (h/t Sky Sports).
Gabbiadini, winger Nathan Redmond and attacking midfielder Dusan Tadic will ensure Puel's squad still boasts the pace and artistry in attack to take advantage of a threadbare and suspect City defence.
