Preview
Silva and City aim to avoid a slip against the Saints.
Saturday's opening fixture presents an audience with Manchester City: Men against Boys. Manuel Pellegrini's title chasers have just eight games to secure their seat on the Premier League throne, but Mauricio Pochettino's fresh-faced English fleet will be desperate to etch their names into Roy Hodgson's team sheet for the World Cup this summer. One may claim that the Saints have nothing left to play for this season, but with the golden sands and cerulean waves of Rio de Janeiro calling their names, Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Luke Shaw wont be taking their feet off the pedal.
The blues have been linked with a big money move for the 18-year-old full back, but Shaw, who is also attracting interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, remains focused on reaching the top five with his current club. Nevertheless, England's most intriguing young talent will be aware of the 48,000 eyes examining his every move on Saturday afternoon, and the added pressure could force the youngster to crumble under the genius of City's attacking midfield.
The word "genius" infuses one man in particular into the mind of City fans, and that man is David Silva. The Spanish sorcerer has enchanted his side's last four opponents with his wizardry in the middle of the field and was recently voted as the player most likely to propel Manchester City to the title in a poll completed by 68 blues. Himself, Yaya Touré and the reinvigorated Martin Demichelis have been nominated as candidates for the club's player of the month award for March, but the 28-year-old is expected to run away with the votes.
(David Silva received 35% of the votes in a recent poll that asked who would play the most significant role for Manchester City in their last eight games)
Daniel Osvaldo's classy curler ruled out Sergio Agüero's 10th minute opener in the reverse fixture in December, but neither of the strikers will play any part in Saturday's clash. Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that the Argentine will miss Saturday's fixture, but the forward is keen to ensure his next return to the squad is not so short-lived.
"With this recovery I am trying to do my best to be able to play again, but I cannot do it in a hurry," Agüero told DirectTV.
"I do think to myself if something happens now, I will lose the rest of the Premier League season and the World Cup."
(Sergio Agüero will not play against Southampton)
But with the Saints in exceptional form, Manuel Pellegrini may be forced into calling on his top striker to maintain City's hopes of attaining their second domestic trophy of the season. Pochettino's side have won three out of their last four Premier League games, scoring 10 goals in the process, and the form of 15 goal striker Jay Rodriguez has put his team's goal difference within touching distance of double figures.
Encouragingly for Manchester City, Southampton have lost three of their last five fixtures on the road where they have fallen to relegation battlers Sunderland in the FA Cup and West Ham United. With the third best home record in the league, Pellegrini's posse will be optimistic of taking advantage of that dismal run.
City's tie with league leaders Liverpool next week may be the talk of the tabloids, but if the blues fail to pick up the points against Pochettino's pupils tomorrow afternoon, the significance of that fixture could be condensed.
Prediction: 3-1
Line-Ups
Sergio Agüero will play no part on Saturday, but his eventual return could provide the blues with the impetus needed to secure the Premier League title. Edin Džeko's recent form is expected to be given the nod over Álvaro Negredo's worrying slump in front of goal.
(Álvaro Negredo has gone 14 games without a goal for the blues)
Victor Wanyama is unlikely to feature as he continues to cover from a leg injury whilst Maya Yoshida, Nathaniel Clyne and Kelvin Davis all miss out.
Possible line-ups
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Nasri, Fernandinho, Yaya Touré, Milner, Silva, Džeko.
Southampton: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert.
Head to Head Stats
- Southampton's last win at the Etihad Stadium came in April 2004 when James Beattie and a Kevin Phillips brace helped them to a 3-1 victory
- In City's last 5 home games against the Saints, the visitors have won three times. City have won twice.
- The blues kick started their 2012/2013 campaign with a 3-2 home win over the Saints on the opening day of last season. Goals from Carlos Tevez, Edin Džeko and Samir Nasri sealed the narrow victory.
- In 9 Premier League home fixtures against the Saints, City have won just four times.
Premier League stats
- The blues (80) have scored 31 more goals than Southampton (49) this season
- Southampton (40) have conceded 12 more goals than Manchester City (28)
- Both teams are dangerous from set pieces with the teams scoring 37 goals from set pieces between them this season. City (23), Southampton (14)
- The teams (55%) have enjoyed the same average amount of possession in games this term.
- The blues (410) have created 70 more chances than Southampton (340).
