Manchester City are the only remaining unbeaten team in the Premier League after eight matches this season, a record the reigning champions will look to preserve against winless Southampton.
Pep Guardiola's men face the club in 19th place six days after they needed a last-gasp winner from John Stones at Molineux to down 20th-place Wolves.
Southampton were on the wrong end of late drama as they surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Leicester City last time out, Jordan Ayew netting a 98th-minute winner for the Foxes.
Erling Haaland scored twice in Wednesday's 5-0 UEFA Champions League win over Sparta Prague but is without a goal in his past three Premier League outings ahead of the Saints' visit to the Etihad Stadium.
The Sporting News rounds up the latest team news, with Guardiola managing a mounting injury list.
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Man City vs. Southampton lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku were added to City's walking wounded this week and neither is likely to recover to face Southampton. Oscar Bobb already being out with a broken leg left Guardiola with suddenly sparse wide attacking options aside from Brazil winger Savinho.
In his team-mates' absence, Matheus Nunes played on the left wing against Sparta and had an excellent evening. The Portugal midfielder supplied two assists before dispatching a late penalty and should have done enough to earn a rare Premier League start.
Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic all rested up on the bench in midweek and are expected to rotate back in as Guardiola seeks to use his resources judiciously. Captain Kyle Walker is set to be one of six senior players ruled out, with Kevin De Bruyne (thigh) only back in light training and Rodri (ACL) out for the season.
Man City (4-3-3 right to left): Ederson (GK) — Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol — Silva, Kovacic, Foden — Savinho, Haaland, Nunes
Injuries: De Bruyne (doubt), Grealish, Doku, Walker, Rodri, Bobb
Suspensions: None
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Ryan Fraser's red card proved to be a pivotal moment in Southampton's defeat to Leicester and the Scotland winger will serve a one-match suspension this weekend.
Fraser replaced right-back Yukinari Sugawara and boss Russell Martin will hope the Japan international has recovered from his injury in time to face City. Will Smallbone has suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury and will likely miss out at the Etihad Stadium.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis is set to line up against his former club at centre-back and face up to the daunting task of trying to shackle Haaland.
Southampton (4-3-3, right to left): Ramsdale (GK) — Sugawara, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters —Dibling, Aribo, Downes, Fernandes, Manning — Archer
Injuries: Bazunu, Smallbone Sugawara (doubt), Stewart (doubt)
Suspensions: Fraser
What time does Man City vs. Southampton kick off?
This Premier League clash takes place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom and kicks off on Saturday, October 26 at 3 p.m. local time.
Here's how that time translates across some of the major global territories:
Date | Kickoff time | |
USA/Canada | Sat, Oct. 26 | 10 a.m. ET |
Australia | Sun Oct. 27 | 12 a.m. AEST |
UK | Sat, Oct. 26 | 3 p.m. BST |
India | Sat, Oct. 26 | 7:30 p.m. IST |
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