Second hosts third in the game of catch-up with this a true test of these sides’ credentials. The visitors will hope to maintain momentum after their narrow victory against Swansea and late midweek triumph over Bayern Munich. Southampton secured a point at Aston Villa last time out but it is a mark of their progress to date this term that even a draw in the west Midlands felt wasteful. Their pedigree will be scrutinised in a tough schedule over the next month. There has been little evidence to date that they will be daunted. Dominic Fifield
Kick-off Sunday 1.30pm
Venue St Mary’s Stadium
Last season Soton 1 Man City 1
Live Sky Sports 1
Referee M Jones
This season G7, Y18, R1, 2.86 cards per game
Odds H 2-1 A 7-5 D 13-5
Southampton
Subs from K Davis, Gazzaniga, Cropper, McCarthy, Targett, Gardos, Yoshida, Cork, Reed, McQueen, Isgrove, Mayuka, Long
Doubtful S Davis (hamstring)
Injured Ward-Prowse (foot, 21 Dec), Rodriguez (knee, 26 Dec), Gallagher (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form LWWWWD
Discipline Y16 R0
Leading scorer Pellè 6
Manchester City
Subs from Caballero, Wright, Nastasic, Boyata, Sinclair, Sagna, Fernando, Milner, Demichelis, Lampard
Doubtful None
Injured Dzeko (calf, 6 Dec), Silva (knee, 6 Dec), Kolarov (calf, 13 Dec)
Suspended None
Form WWLWDW
Discipline Y28 R1
Leading scorer Agüero 12
