Pep Guardiola was eloquent and defiant in Friday’s pre-game press conference but the bottom line is if he follows Wednesday night’s 4-0 humiliation at Barcelona with a loss to Southampton he can expect a mini-inquiry into why his side have failed to win for five games. This might not be reasonable but in English football’s boom-and-bust culture it is just the way it is. Claude Puel’s side are unbeaten in the league since 10 September and up to eighth but it will still be a shock if the leaders are unable to defeat them. Jamie Jackson
Kick-off Sunday 1.30pm
Venue Etihad Stadium
Last season Manchester City 3 Southampton 1
Live Sky Sports 1
Referee Mark Clattenburg
This season G5, Y20, R0, 4.00 cards per game
Odds H 1-2 A 13-2 D 7-2
Manchester City
Subs from Caballero, Navas, Clichy, Iheanacho, Adarabioyo, Gunn, Nolito, Kompany, Fernando, Maffeo
Doubtful None
Injured Zabaleta (foot, 29 Nov), Sagna (hamstring, 12 Nov), Delph (knock, unknown)
Suspended None
Unavailable Touré (club dispute)
Form WWWWLD
Discipline Y15 R1
Leading scorer Agüero 5
Southampton
Subs from McCarthy, Yoshida, Boufal, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Rodriguez, Soares, Gardos, Reed
Doubtful Bertrand (hamstring), Soares (foot)
Injured Long (hamstring, 19 Nov), Targett (hamstring, 19 Nov), Pied (knee, Jun)
Suspended None
Form DLWWDW
Discipline Y12 R0
Leading scorer Austin 4
