The pressure is on. City are currently four points behind league leaders Liverpool in third place with two games in hand, and will be looking to win here to ensure they are in pole position ahead of their clash with the Reds at Anfield. Prior to that draw against Arsenal, City's form had been very good having won each of their last four league games.
Southampton are in 8th place, six points behind Man Utd having won three of the last four games. Southampton could prove to be dangerous opponents.
Team News
Sergio Aguero will miss the game even though he had returned to training earlier this week. "It is too soon for Sergio,” said Pellegrini. "He has trained for only two days and needs more time. Perhaps one week more and he will be prefect for the game against Liverpool. "We hope he will return and play an important role in our remaining matches but this match has come too soon for him. He needs more work to become 100% fit but he will be fine for next weekend.” Matija Nastasic is still out with a knee injury. Micah Richards is in the squad after recovering from a knee problem.
Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino could name the same team which beat Newcastle 4-0 last weekend. Saints will assess Victor Wanyama's leg injury, while Maya Yoshida and Kelvin Davis are long-term absentees.
Stats
- Southampton have won five of their last 10 Premier League games against Manchester City (D2, L3).
- However, Saints have lost their last three league and cup games at the Etihad Stadium.
- City are the only team yet to draw a Premier League home game this season. They have won 13 of their 14 games so far, with their only defeat coming against Chelsea.
- Manuel Pellegrini's side have won 19 of the 23 league games in which they opened the scoring this season
- City have used the fewest players of any team in the Premier League this season (23).
- Southampton's points tally of 48 is their highest after 32 top-flight matches since the 1984-85 season, when they eventually finished fifth.
- Southampton have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League (18).
- Only Luis Suarez (11) has more goal assists than Rickie Lambert (10) in the Premier League this season.