A game Pep doesn’t like.

That’s what Pep said about this match weeks ago when he was asked about up and coming fixtures…then he repeated what he’d said following a similar question in another pre-match press conference a week or two later.

Our manager believes that an already relegated team brings its own-unique dangers and, from 3:00pm to around 4:50pm today, we’ll find out.

v Southampton

St. Mary's Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-6-0 (occasional 3-7-0):

_______________________________________________

___________________Marmoush___________________

 

__Doku__________________________________Silva__

 

________Gundogan_____________De Bruyne________

____________________Kovacic____________________

 

O’Reilly___________________________________Nunes

__________Gvardiol_______________Dias___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Gonzalez, Foden, McAtee, Grealish, Savinho and Haaland.

Ed in net.

A back-4 come 3 of Nico O’Reilly, Josko, Ruben and Matheus.

Mateo to continue in the deepest midfield position, with Jeremy, Ilkay, Kevin and Bernardo ahead of the Croatian in fluid, attacking midfield / wing positions.

Omar could still get another start as our furthest forward player and that’s despite the return of his striking colleague.

Stefan continues to provide keeper insurance, while Rico and Manuel provide defensive cover on the bench. Nico Gonzalez, Phil and James make up three midfielders in ‘the 9’; Jack and Savinho give us two wing options and a returning Erling is reserve striker.

Notable absences:

-       Abdukodir Khusanov – Not selected.

-       John Stones – Going off the initial assessment and timescale information given, John is due back any time now following a thigh injury. His manager said on 18^th April that John was getting better and so, now I suppose, we await a further update. Clearly it’s taking longer than expected…

-       Nathan Ake – Back in training following a fractured foot for which he had surgery.

-       Vitor Reis – Not selected.

-       Rodri – Continues to train on his long journey back to fitness following an ACL injury last September. On 25^th April, his manager first confirmed that he was no longer training alone but was back with his teammates and he’s basically waiting for the ‘thumbs up’ from the Doctors before he can be considered for a matchday squad.

-       Oscar Bobb – Back in training following minor hamstring injury on his way back from a fractured leg he suffered on 13^th August 2024.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yep.

Result?

Okay, this could be a strangely-tricky fixture with our hosts having already been relegated weeks ago and they will be desperately trying not join Derby County for having the joint-worst ever Premier League points tally of just 11 points.

Yes, the bottom side by a whopping 10 points and with a goal difference of -57, could take vital points off us on Saturday afternoon. Stranger things in football have happened.

However, I just can’t see it.

As long as we turn up with the right attitude – that is very important in a fixture like this one where it’s all too easy to simply ‘rock up’ thinking you’ve won before a ball has even been kicked – then we should take all-3 points.

That’s what I’m going for – a City win.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: 19C (66F) and wall-to-wall sunshine. There is a fairly brisk south-easterly breeze on the south coast but nothing that detracts from the pleasantly warm temperature. UV levels are HIGH. Enjoy Blues! ☀⛱😎🍺⚽

Solidarity