Relegation-battling Southampton host title-chasing Manchester City in a crucial clash at opposite ends of the Premier League table.
Should Leicester lose to Bournemouth in the mid-afternoon kick-offs, victory would see Southampton move off the foot of the table.
Man City meanwhile can cut their title defict to five points with a win, because Arsenal are not in action until Sunday.
Team News
Armel Bella-Kotchap could return for Southampton after he missed their defeat at West Ham last weekend with a shoulder injury.
Mohamed Salisu (unspecified), Che Adams (calf), Valentino Livramento (muscle) and Juan Larios (adductor) remain absent.
Man City will welcome Erling Haaland back into contention after he missed their comeback victory against Liverpool, due to a groin injury.
Phil Foden (appendix) remains absent but is set to return in late April.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Man City at 5:30pm BST on Saturday 8 April at St Mary’s Stadium, live on Sky Sports in UK.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have claimed two points from their last five meetings against Man City (D2, L3).
- Man City are unbeaten in five of their last six league visits to Southampton (W1, D1, L4).
- Southampton have conceded four goals in two of their last three meetings against City in all competitions, except for a 2-0 home win in this season’s Carabao Cup in January.
- No Southampton player has hit the woodwork more than Che Adams and James Ward-Prowse this season, with the pair having rattled the woodwork twice each.
- Haaland has scored in three of City’s last four away matches in the Premier League (W3, D1), except for a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest in February.
Prediction
Sat rock-bottom with a four-point gap to safety at start of this matchweek, Southampton have to show more passion in their end product after producing a flat performance at West Ham, where their play was disjointed which could be their downfall if they don’t improve against City.
Man City though will be boosted by Haaland’s return but they were absolutely brilliant without him against Liverpool, because they were just unbelievable in their pace, movement and intensity aside from an early marking error which allowed Mohamed Salah to put the Reds ahead.
City though will be aware of what Southampton can do if they bring an aggressive high intensity style as they discovered in January – in their shock Carabao Cup Quarter-Final defeat, so I do expect them to come and try seize control of this match early on.
Do that then I do expect City to cruise to a comfortable win but if Southampton can bring the same grit and determination as they did in their last home game against Tottenham, this could be close but I just can’t see Man City losing this game.
Prediction: Southampton 0-3 Manchester City
Result: Southampton 1-4 Manchester City
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