Only three more rounds of fixtures remain for another engrossing Premier League campaign to culminate. The 2024/25 season continues this weekend with Gameweek 36, which will kick off on Saturday. The action on the day starts with four simultaneous matches, including Southampton vs Manchester City at St. Mary’s.
Southampton never stood a chance in the 2024/25 season, and they suffered relegation from the Premier League without putting up a fight. The Saints have won only two games in 35 attempts, and they are on the cusp of ending with the joint-fewest-ever points tally for a Premier League campaign, along with Derby County. So, the EFL Championship-bound outfit should focus on laying the groundwork for a successful promotion battle next term.
On the other hand, Manchester City can end a dreadful 2024/25 campaign on a high. The Citizens have meekly surrendered their Premier League title but are on a four-match winning run. Incredibly, they can finish second in the standings amid Arsenal’s inconsistent run, with the North London outfit only three points ahead. In addition, Pep Guardiola’s men will aim to reclaim the FA Cup title next weekend.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester City eke a narrow 1-0 win over Southampton, with Erling Haaland scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Simon Rusk has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The interim Southampton manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Manchester City on Saturday.
Matheus Fernandes is fit and available after recovering from a chest infection that forced him to miss last weekend’s game against Leicester City. So, Albert Gronbaek (Achilles) and Charlie Taylor (hip) are the only players on the sidelines for the home side.
Aaron Ramsdale is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Southampton lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester City on Saturday. The central defensive unit should feature Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek, and Jack Stephens.
Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning will start as the two wing-backs, with Flynn Downes and Lesley Ugochukwu being the two central midfielders. Finally, Paul Onuachu should lead the line for Southampton vs Manchester City on Saturday, with Matheus Fernandes and Kamaldeen Sulemana providing creative support.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Downes, Ugochukwu, Manning; Fernandes, Sulemana; Onuachu
Like his counterpart in the Southampton dugout, Pep Guardiola has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to St. Mary’s. The Manchester City manager will be without four first-team players on Saturday.
Nathan Ake (foot) and Rodri (knee) have resumed training, although Saturday’s game has come too soon for the duo. Meanwhile, John Stones (hamstring) and Oscar Bobb (leg) remain on the sidelines.
Ederson Moraes will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Southampton on Saturday. The backline should feature Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico O’Reilly.
As for the midfield unit, Nico Gonzalez should line up alongside Ilkay Gundogan in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Kevin De Bruyne will reprise the no. 10 role, with Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku being the two wide attackers. Finally, the fit-again Erling Haaland will spearhead the Manchester City attack against Southampton on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Gundogan, Marmoush, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
While Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland, and Matheus Fernandes were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Kevin De Bruyne as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Southampton and Manchester City at St. Mary’s.
The Manchester City captain has an excellent record vs Southampton, having been directly involved in 14 Premier League goals against the Saints (G4 A10), more than against any other side. In addition, he has picked up form in the last few weeks. So, as he gets ready to leave a gaping hole at Manchester City with his summer departure, De Bruyne will aim to continue heading into the final day of his spell on a high.
With Erling Haaland back, Omar Marmoush continuing his smooth transition to the Etihad challenge, and Kevin De Bruyne in excellent form, Southampton will have no chance of stopping the Manchester City juggernaut this weekend. The home side will put in a valiant effort, but that will not be enough. The Hard Tackle predicts a straightforward 3-0 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.
