How Manchester City could line up against Southampton

Unbeaten Manchester City play host to Premier League strugglers Southampton on Sunday afternoon for the second of five matches in 13 days.

The Citizens have already defeated Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham this week, in the top flight and EFL Cup respectively, and they now welcome the lowly Saints to the Etihad Stadium.

City have kept a clean sheet in their last six league games and come up against a Southampton side without a goal in five matches.

Ahead of this weekend's clash, Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola may set out his side.

Out: Kevin De Bruyne (knee), Claudio Bravo (Achilles) Doubtful: Eliaquim Mangala (knee), Ilkay Gundogan (hamstring)

City made 10 changes for their comfortable 2-0 win over Fulham in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Thursday evening, with John Stones the only player to retain his place in the side from the 1-0 triumph at Tottenham Hotspur three days earlier.

Stones has been a key part of the Citizens' incredible defensive setup this term, however, forming a solid partnership alongside Aymeric Laporte, and Guardiola may therefore use the English centre-back for the third time in a week.

Vincent Kompany and, more likely, Nicolas Otamendi are other alternatives if Guardiola wants to keep things fresh ahead of the midweek visit of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

The win over Fulham did come at a cost, though, as De Bruyne left the field late on with a knee injury on just his second start since returning from a two-month layoff.

De Bruyne is expected to miss around a month of action, and with Gundogan also not yet fully fit it may be a case of Guardiola going with the same midfield - and indeed the same attack - that started against Tottenham.