There are plenty of match previews out there and we start with HITC as they predict that Sergio Aguero will cause the Saints many problems.
James Hodgkins writes: “City’s goal-getter Sergio Aguero is likely to provide Southampton’s back line - still missing Virgil Van Dijk - with a testing evening, as the Argentina international currently has ten goals from his last ten appearances and is likely to be supported by an enviable attacking front of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne and
Elsewhere, FootballFanCast have listed five key battles that will take place at St. Mary’s with one of them being a middle battle between David Silva and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
James Beavis scribes: “Silva continues to be City’s key creator and magician in the centre of the pitch, and the Spaniard has made 71 chances in 29 Premier League appearances this term.
“Meanwhile, with Oriol Romeu missing through suspension and Steven Davis absent because of an ankle injury, Hojbjerg and Jordy Clasie were given rare Premier League starts in the win against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.
“The Dane will be keen to show manager Claude Puel that he deserves to be a regular starter next season, and he will need to keep a close eye on Silva at St Mary’s.”
Completing today’s match previews, we end on a view from the opposition with quotes from Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic.
The 28-year old spoke to their official website and believes it will be a completely different match from the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium, which finished 1-1.
Tadic said: “We had a lot of chances in that game on the counter-attack but I think this time it will be different.
“It will be an open game and everything is possible.”
Finally, in an interview with ESPN, Gael Clichy is confident that Leroy Sane will win plenty of individual honours during his career.
The German international was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year earlier this week and Clichy believes that Sane will receive plenty of acknowledgement, even if he doesn’t win this season’s award.
Clichy is quoted as saying: “I think it’s fair he’s been nominated for the young player of the season and I really do hope he wins it because it’s really hard coming to a new country at his age and adapting so quickly, the way he did.
“I hope people will do the right thing for him but I hope even if he doesn’t get it this season, he will get so many [awards] in the future because he’s got so much potential.”
That’s all for today, keep up-That’s all for this morning’s media round-up! We’ll have all the coverage of Southampton v Manchester City on mancity.com!
