Reigning champions Manchester City host a winless Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The last time these sides met – a helter-skelter 5-2 victory for City in March – Pep Guardiola admitted that the deciding factor in a thrilling meeting was ‘the money’ his club were able to spend on the attacking talents that ultimately overpowered a well-drilled Southampton.
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Six months on, City – fresh from rattling six past RB Leipzig – have added the most expensive signing in the history of English football to their roster.
Here’s the XI Guardiola may select this weekend.
Note to self: do NOT joke about @kylewalker2‘s pace ?
? #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/p26s2jmTqH
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 14, 2021
Ederson (GK) – One of the few that escapes Guardiola’s rotation policy normally, the Brazilian number one has his spot even more firmly secured by Zack Steffen’s absence.
Kyle Walker (RB) – Rested in midweek, Walker’s pace should be on full display against the Saints.
John Stones (CB) – Since lining up for last season’s Champions League final, Stones has played nine times for England but is yet to get on the pitch for the club he recently signed a lengthy extension with. In the wake of their midweek win, he may sneak back into the set up.
Ruben Dias (CB) – At times last season, Guardiola seemed almost more impressed with the quantity rather than quality of matches Dias was capable of. That durability will be needed for Saturday.
Joao Cancelo (LB) – On either flank, Cancelo offers a frightening amount of creativity to rival all but one of his teammates – a certain Belgian was the only City player to carve open more chances in the Premier League last season.
What a crazy #UCL night ?? pic.twitter.com/RvzAWCBqyX
— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) September 15, 2021
Ilkay Gundogan (CM) – (Somehow) City’s top scorer last season is one of the staggering nine different players that have already found the net in the league after four games – only nine Sheffield United players scored across the entirety of the previous campaign.
Rodri (CM) – Has a firm hold on the most important position in a Guardiola team – the role the Catalan played himself back in the day – Rodri was given less than an hour on Wednesday likely with Saturday in mind.
Bernardo Silva (CM) – Following on from his first league goal since February, the previously want-away midfielder is ‘back in the best form and mentality’ according to his manager.
Congratulations to this group for the great win on our Champions League debut. Very happy to score in the day I completed 200 games with Man City’s jersey. Let’s keep doing it!#alômãe#gratidão#doperi pic.twitter.com/HRE4A0Q66H
— Gabriel Jesus (@gabrieljesus9) September 15, 2021
Gabriel Jesus (RW) – City’s number nine seems to be now permanently a wide player – a role he’s outwardly claimed to prefer and may well excel once more in against Southampton’s Premier League rookie Romain Perraud.
Ferran Torres (ST) – Trusted with the central role after a summer in which Man City failed to sign a proper striker.
Phil Foden (LW) – Following a dragging post-Euro layoff, City’s 21-year-old academy gem was given his first minutes of the campaign in midweek, and could be in line for his first start come the weekend.
