Our live stream ahead of Saturdays Premier League match, Southampton vs Manchester City is now up, kicking off at 15.00 GMT
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Southampton come into the game in fine form having now lost only one of their last 11 league matches. The 1-1 draw with Arsenal midweek moved them up to third in the Premier League with Theo Walcott’s goal cancelled out by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Shortly after Arsenal equalised, Gabriel was sent off by referee Paul Tierney for two bookable offences in the space of four minutes – the second for a foul on Walcott. Arsenal were forced to play out the final 28 minutes of the match with 10 men.
Southampton went straight on the attack and will feel hard done by not to grab a winner when Redmond’s strike beat Leno but struck the crossbar.
City come into the game on the back of successive draws that have further derailed their Premier League title hopes. In the midweek they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with 19th-placed West Bromwich Albion.
City needed a response after their pedestrian Manchester derby performance and took the lead on the half hour thanks to Ilkay Gundogan’s clinical strike, but the Baggies hit back before the break as Semi Ajayi’s strike deflected in off Ruben Dias.
City laid siege to the West Brom goal in the second half but found Sam Johnstone in inspired form as a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick and stoppage-time headers from Gundogan and Raheem Sterling were brilliantly kept out.
The draw leaves City sixth in the table, five points behind leaders Tottenham and Liverpool, while 19th-placed West Brom move to within two points of safety after securing an unexpected yet thoroughly-deserved point.
Southampton and City last met in July, separated by a 40-yard chip from Che Adams as Southampton beat City 1-0 at home…
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Ralph Hasenhuttl
On five subs…
“We take it how it is. We voting for the five subs. I was always a friend of having more subs – even in Germany. Especially at this time now over Christmas, I think it would be helpfull”
“To have more players on the bench is not really helpful, I think. I feel that now when we have this intense three games a week schedule it is definitely something which could help.”
Any injuries after Arsenal and will you rotate for City?
“This is the key. When you have five subs to do you can rotate easier. Now it’s always you thinking how good is he feeling, does he need to be rested from the beginning or take 45 minutes.
“It’s always difficult going into a game knowing the player does not have the power for 90 minutes because he feels a little bit tired.
“It’s a decision we have to take. We have to see carefully how fit the players are and then find the right 11.”
You beat City in July. How confident about doing it again?
“We very often speak about this one game out of ten where you have a chance to win.
“We play against a fantastic team, against in possession one of the best teams in the world. There are different ways to play against such teams but in the end, you get a result by investing more than the opponent.
“That’s what we did last game we had a good game plan and I think this is the good thing, we are not playing worse than that time because I think we developed our game since then, every part of our game.
“We are now a better team so i don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t have a chance to get something but definitely you need a fantastic game and a fantastic day.
“It’s a pity that we don’t have more time to prepare for the game because for these games normally you should have a little more time to train on the pitch to work on a few things and a few automatisms.
“Yeah, we don’t have that but the good thing is on the other side we have played a few games now and the team is very committed, very well organised, tactically on a different level now and will be hopefully a good challenge for us and we can be a very good opponent.”
City’s form is far from perfect and they missed chances against West Brom, a game they drew. Just a blip?
“Yeah, you see the quality of this team in every moment of the game and to defend against them around the box you need every player – and you will also have this weekend we are sometimes defending our box a bit deeper but we also want to play football, we also want to have the ball, we also want to stretch them.
“They are very also very good and organised in the defence and don’t concede a lot of goals but we must also find the way through their lines. It’s exactly what I often say…if you want to become a better team you need exactly these games.
“We made good progress in the past so we need these games and we want to learn from these games.”
Fans back at St Mary’s again, just one of only four Premier League grounds where fans can now attend. Are they important?
“Absolutely, it was a fantastic feeling to have them back, it was a fantastic feeling to celebrate with them and hopefully we can give them the same result like last time.”
The football world is not really patient. After the 9-0 loss last season , the club board trusted you and where you are today. I think there is no other example of it. How would you explain the relationship between you and Southampton?
“Firstly, a very good one. In the football life or in the whole life I have made the experience that brave decisions very often bring you more success.
“And it was maybe a brave decision for Martin or maybe not because we have seen how we are still working here and the issues we have with this club, it was a long-term issue before but it takes longer to turn it around maybe or for the mentality of the club.”
“It takes brave decisions for the manager to throw things overboard and trust new things when you see that it doesn’t work. As I said, brave decisions feel right or more right with this experience I have made and you can see that from this situation we are going through together, there was developing a relationship that I haven’t seen so far in football to be honest and what makes this job so enjoyable.”
Avoiding relegation, fighting for Europe, or another target entirely, what kind of plan do you have in mind for the club?
“Nothing of it all because we are targeting the next game and the next game is against Man City.
“We are always on a good way when we are too much concentrated about the end of the season more concentrating maybe at the end of the next day.
“This can definitely change immediately and this is more important I think to use energy for focusing on these parts.”
Is St Mary’s becoming a fortress again?
“Yeah, let’s see how quick things can change in football! It was a little bit of a strange record we had last season, there was no real reason why it happened.
“We didn’t play differently at home and away, we were maybe a little unlucky in some moments, but at the end, it was a bit of a coincidence that we had such a bad home record. We don’t play different (at home) and we still don’t try to do that in the future. I think the general quality we have is now a higher one.”
“That’s what I feel. And as long as we bring this on the pitch, when you show this in the game, we have a bigger, bigger chance for winning games.
“Against such teams it’s always difficult. I mean, if you tell me before the season that on the 13th match day, we would be four points ahead of Man City… okay, they have played one game less – but I would say you are not really right – stupid! So yeah, but we are at the moment. So we have done a few things right maybe. And now we have to look to be, again, a good opponent and a competitive opponent.”
How similar will tomorrow’s game-plan v City be to the one you had in July?
I think you’re never in the right direction if you concentrate too much what you have done in the past because the game develops. They have developed – they’re clearly different against the ball and with the ball while we have developed our game a little bit.
“So it’s always good to adapt on the momentary situation, what you do good in the moment and want to have to do better. You can be sure that we again want to play active – not passive. This is the way we want to play. And we also will press them.
“So this is the good thing. When you watch our games, we don’t care about the quality of the opponent, we always want to be active – even if we don’t have the ball. And this is our philosophy. This is the way this club goes now in an interesting direction, I think, and we don’t ever have in our minds that we want to change this for a good club.
How much effect did the goal v City have on Che Adams last time?
“After this goal, he was a different striker. I think the belief was there, suddenly. He was very long waiting for his first goal – unbelievably long. He was very unlucky in his first year here but we always gave him the time to develop.
“And we could see how hard he was working in the sessions. And now he is in front of a guy who is working so hard for our team, keeps the ball and is also always dangerous of scoring himself.”
“And this is the player we wanted to sign and the player we hoped we were signing. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer to adapt to the Premier League – to adapt to new things. And what we do here is definitely a new thing.
“There are still things we can improve with him and still bring him more often in a position where he can score more because I think he’s still sometimes not in the right position – where I want him to be. I’m very critical with him here and I always try to develop him but it’s always to help him, like every player. And yeah, as long as players are open-minded for this, I think the benefit is there.”
Does he react well to that criticism?
“Yes. I mean, they have to! The way I try to criticise players is always to find a way that they’re getting better. It’s not about putting them down – it’s about lifting them and showing them that they still can do it better and whoever is listening and showing me immediately that he wants to do it has a good chance to play.”
Pep Guardiola
Aguero fit?
“After the game he could not train. yesterday he didn’t train. Today he trained and trained really well but I don’t know how many minutes [he can play]. It wasn’t anything about the knee but it was another position. Today he trained”
Recognition for Lucy Bronze
“It is important. We cannot forget this is a team sport. Everybody is involved. Lucy made an incredible job with Lyon and let us be proud that she is here. As many better players we can have, the more success. Big congratulations for her on behalf of all of our team.”
Last two results, reaction?
“It will be good. The morale yesterday isn’t important, it is tomorrow that counts. Be calm in the moments where you don’t get results and we will try to play good to get results.”
Rest De Bruyne?
“Rest him before January? No, he is so important for us that he won’t rest. He rested in the Champions League previously and right now we need him”
How do you solve problem up front?
“Insist and insist and insist. If 25 shots is not enough, create more. The only thing is to insist, be positive and one day it will break.”
“Be aggressive, put more players there and when we are able to score goals and win games the confidence will be back but the reality is comparing the 40 goals we scored in the year we won the first PL, 36 the next year and 35 the year after.”
“This year we have 18 so in the previous seasons we were there really well and we have to score more. Last season we scored more goals than the champions.”
“We conceded too much but we have to score more, everybody knows it but it doesn’t depend on one specific player. Everyone can score, it depends on the mentality and the desire.”
Bring someone new in to score?
“Absolutely not. Sergio could not play much and Gabriel has incredible numbers of minutes and goals since he came here, he is one of the best in history.”
“We took 13 corners last game so everyone can score goals. The way we defend depends on the strikers and the same happens up front. The strikers have more responsibility but everyone is involved to try to win games”
Southampton on form
“They know exactly what they have to do in different stages and every department and every situation. The position they are in right now speaks for itself. One team is up there after 12 fixtures because they are doing really good things.”
Bilic sacking
“It’s a decision for WBA so I cannot be involved. I have a good relation with Bilic but with Sam as well. When I had the opportunity to meet them it was nice. Unfortunately I cannot say more, just big support for Bilic and good luck to Sam.”
Success for so long – Is this lack of goals new for you?
“Of course. We have to play better. We create chances and we can play better. We were not able to do some principles perfectly lately and we have to come back on this.”
“It is not just the responsibility of the strikers. They know they have to score, everybody knows it but everybody is involved to create more clear chances. This is all we can do”
Manchester in Tier 3
“The government decided this, I have nothing more to add. I wait for them to take good decisions for society. If they believe they can do it, I am happy. If they believe we cannot have fans for the welfare of everyone, that is welcome.”
More on Southampton
“They have an exceptional manager. I know him a little bit from his time in Germany. He was at many clubs, Leipzig he played in a specific style. He has experience at the back and one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, Romeu.”
“They have James Ward-Prowse, incredible player in set pieces. So no surprise in their success. Southampton for many many years have been working well – so no surprise. But it’s a challenge and we will see what happens.”
FORM:
Southampton Premier League form: WDLWWD
Manchester City Premier League form: DLWWDD
Manchester City form (all competitions): WDWWDD
LINEUPS:
Southampton possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Walcott, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong; Adams, Ings
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling; Aguero
THATSAGOAL TIP:
Che Adams Anytime Scorer – 3/1 with FanTeam
Adams scored his first Premier League goal when he chipped Ederson from distance in the closing weeks of last season. Since then the young Englishman has found his feet at St Mary’s, establishing himself as an integral part of their front line.
Manchester City aren’t flying high in the league but their defensive output in recent games has been good. Nevertheless, against one of the in-form sides in the division, City may not have it all their own way. At 3/1 Adams looks like good value here.
Time to take a look at our Southampton vs Manchester City live match stream as it happens…
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