Phil Foden and Erling Haaland have not been in top form for Man City (Image: Getty)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is facing a headache over Erling Haaland and Phil Foden ahead of their clash against Southampton on Saturday.
The champions are the last remaining unbeaten team in the Premier League after eight games this season and it would take something quite spectacular for Guardiola’s men to lose that record at the Etihad Stadium. They face a struggling Southampton team who are yet to taste victory since gaining promotion back to the top-flight.
While Haaland scored twice in the Champions League in midweek and Foden also got himself on the scoresheet, the pair haven’t been hitting top form domestically. The Norwegian striker has gone three games without a goal and Foden is not currently guaranteed a start.
Express Sport analyse how the league leaders could line up ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixture.
Man City’s predicted XI vs Southampton (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Ederson
With only one clean sheet in eight Premier League games this season, the pressure will be on Ederson to protect his goal against the struggling Saints.
Stefan Ortega was handed a surprise start against Sparta Prague in midweek and the German stopper didn’t concede.
Guardiola has demonstrated before he is willing to give minutes to Ortega if Ederson isn’t performing, although some would argue City’s flimsy defence have exposed the 31-year-old at times.
Rico Lewis has started seven out of eight games for Man City (Image: Getty)
Defence: Rico Lewis, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol
Academy graduate Lewis is increasingly becoming a regular name on Guardiola’s teamsheet after starting seven out of eight games this season, and the 19-year-old looks poised to keep his place.
He will be joined at the back by the reliable trio of Stones, Dias and Gvardiol, who have contributed four goals between them already this term.
Kyle Walker is out with a knee problem.
Kevin de Bruyne has been sidelined with injury but could make a return (Image: Getty)
Midfield: Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva
The absence of Kevin de Bruyne continues to be felt in the City team while the Belgian recovers from an injury sustained during the Champions League clash with Inter Milan in September.
Issuing a coy update on the City ace, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. Of course, I prefer to have all the squad with this amount of games. But it is what it is. Hopefully he comes back soon. I don’t know yet, I would like to tell you, but I don’t know.”
Guardiola had suggested his star midfielder could be back during the international break, only for the Catalan coach to later retract his words.
The 33-year-old could feature from the bench, but Guardiola is inclined to stick with Gundogan and Kovacic while Rodri is still out.
Erling Haaland hasn’t scored in his last three league matches (Image: Getty)
Attack: Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku
Haaland finds himself in a rare rut in the Premier League, having gone three games without a goal. He will fancy his chances of getting back to form at home against a leaky Southampton backline, who have already conceded 18 goals.
Jack Grealish is set to miss the game through injury after it was confirmed he would be out for up to 10 days, having been absent for the 5-0 win over Sparta Prague.
That should see Doku come into the side ahead of Savinho, who was ineffective in the 2-1 win over Wolves. The Belgian has been forced to wait for his chance in the team, but scored against Fulham and provided an assist for Gvardiol’s goal at Molineux.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1966884/Man-City-team-news-Haaland-Foden-Southampton-predicted-XI