Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Southampton.

Manchester City have been excellent for the most part of the early stages of the season but defeats to both Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona have set them back in their quest to regain the Premier League table and move to the next level in Europe. They are without a win in four games in all competitions but today's fixture with Southampton gives them the opportunity to reestablish themselves at the top of the table.

That said, they will not expect to have it their own way against a Southampton side who are performing well under Claude Puel. The Saints lost out to Inter Milan in midweek but they dominated the Italian giants at the San Siro and it suggests that they will not be overawed when they make their second trip to a high-profile club in the space of three days.

Anyway, without further ado, let's get onto the team news which is emerging from the changing rooms at th Etihad Stadium.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Stones, Kompany, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES Caballero, Fernando, Nolito, Navas, Clichy, Otamendi, Iheanacho

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Fonte, McQueen, Cuco Martina, Van Dijk, Davis, Tadic, Oriol Romeu, Clasie, Austin, Redmond

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: McCarthy, Yoshida, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Hojbjerg, Stephens

The big news coming out of the City camp is the return of both Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero. There was suggestions in the week that the pair could be sold in the summer - reports firmly denied by Pep Guardiola - but the Spaniard has attempted to show his faith in the pair by including them this afternoon. It also appears that City will play with three at the back with Fernandinho and Gundogan sitting just in front of the defence. There's also a start for Leroy Sane, with Nolito dropping to the bench.

As for Southampton, Puel is able to recall Nathan Redmond after the winger missed out on an appearance against Inter Milan. Steven Davis and Jordy Clasie are recalled with James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg while Jose Fonte and Charlie Austin are also back in the starting lineup.

Before we continuing previewing this game, let me try to be helpful and point you in the direction of all our match reports from the yesterday's Premier League fixtures. There wasn't a whole lot of goals but there were a number of interesting results. Click on the relevant fixture to find out what went down.

Before this game gets underway, you may want to check out the Premier League table because for now at least, things are pretty tight at the top. Both Arsenal and Liverpool had chances to capitalise on City playing a day late but they could not take full advantage. City will go two points clear if they can get past Southampton this afternoon while the Saints could move as high as sixth - and to within four points of City - if they can pull off a shock win in the North-West.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 85th time that the two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture and past meetings haven't gone as you would think. Despite City becoming the super club that they are today, Southampton still hold the lead with 31 victories in comparison to 29 for City. However, while Southampton prevailed when the teams last met, City won the previous four games convincingly and the last six games at the Etihad have ended in home wins.

Let's get back to looking at today's teams and it came as no surprise that Aguero was recalled to the starting lineup. He hasn't scored in his last four games but his absence against Barcelona informed Guardiola that he needs to operate with a front-line striker, even against a possession-hungry team like the Catalan giants. A number of threatening crosses were delivered into the box and no-one was there to take full advantage and it effectively cost the English side at Camp Nou. Aguero is far from guaranteed his place in the team but he is the key to whether City can push on this season.

Southampton have no such problems in attack with Charlie Austin making the number-nine position his own over the past two months. The 27-year-old had a slow start to life with the Saints but he has scored seven times in his last seven outings and if he remains fit, they have the perfect replacement for Graziano Pelle. Not having Shane Long in reserve is a blow but expect to see club-record signing Sofiane Boufal in the second half. He looked lively against Inter and could make an impression if given too much space by the City defence.

Let's play Manchester City's Twitter game...

We're closing in on kick-off! 30 to go. How's #cityvsaints going to go down?

1️⃣ First goalscorer
2️⃣ Key player
3️⃣ Final score pic.twitter.com/YwVnzZfGBe — Manchester City (@ManCity) October 23, 2016

KEY PLAYER! We think either Raheem Sterling or Leroy Sane will be City's key player. While Martina and McQueen have performed well when deputising for Soares and Bertrand, the pace and trickery of the two wingers will ensure that they have a busy afternoon.

PREDICTION! It will take a good team to comfortably beat Southampton but City are that good and with a few tired legs in the Saints team, we expect them to have a routine 90 minutes. We think Sterling will open the scoring in a 3-0 win.

This is just the starter ahead of what is a bumper day of action. Shortly after the conclusion of this match, it will be time for Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge with Manchester United before Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao in tonight's La Liga fixture. You can catch full text coverage of both games with Sports Mole.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out onto the pitch at the Etihad. Mark Clattenburg is our official.

City get us underway.

City start with a spell of possession but then, wait - what is this? A LONG BALL is played from the back towards Aguero but it has just too much pace on it. Signs of Guardiola mixing it up a touch.

It's been a sharp start from Aguero but he twists and turns one too many times and gets delayed in the box. However, City work the situation where Silva gets down the left and crosses into the middle but Forster is there to claim.

Southampton have already given away a couple of cheap fouls inside the penalty area but as of yet, City are yet to take advantage. Aside from that, the Saints have settled down well and are starting to show a bit of ambition in the City half.

The first corner of the match goes to Southampton after some neat play from Tadic but the ball into the box barely clears the first man and City are able to clear.

It has been a very low-key start at the Etihad. City are doing most of the probing but they haven't come close to opening the scoring. As I say that, they win a corner...

Nothing comes from the corner but after the play developed, Fernandinho got down the right-hand side of the penalty area before trying to find Sterling. Unfortunately for City, the winger can't get on the end of what was an excellent delivery.

Southampton put together a decent break down the left through Tadic but despite having men over, the Serbian can only finds the hands of Bravo. He should have done better there.

SHOT! Southampton are arguably playing the better football here. Tadic and Redmond combine to set up Clasie on the edge of the area but his shot is rushed and high into the stands.

How haven't City made the most of that? De Bruyne had possession of the ball in a two-on-one possession but rather than go towards goal, as he should have done, he attempts to poke the ball through to Aguero and Van Dijk is able to intervene.

When are City going to learn about not over-playing at the back? It's another disaster for Guardiola's side as Stones's back-pass only finds Redmond inside the penalty area and after taking the ball around Bravo, he hits the back of the net despite being put under pressure by a defender.

To Southampton's credit, they have probably been the better side. There hasn't been a lot in it but City can't feel hard done by. They are showing no urgency in attack and there's always a mistake in them at the back.

Well, we thought we had just seen a goal but it has been chalked off?! It must be for offside. Stones converted De Bruyne's free kick from close range but it has been disallowed.

I think City are still reeling from having that goal wiped off. Aguero was the man who was adjudged offside after trying to head the ball before it arrived at the feet of Stones. It's the correct call by the official.

SHOT! There's an air of frustration at the Etihad. Despite that disallowed goal, they haven't played well and they are being reduced to long-range strikes. Gundogan just tried his luck but it went well wide.

A sharp turn gives Aguero the chance to shoot from a similar position to Gundogan but like his teammate, he drags his effort well wide of the far post.

Is it time to start questioning whether Man City have been found out? They didn't beat Everton due to missed chances but against Spurs, Barcelona and today against Southampton, they look short of ideas. Expect a change of some kind at the break.

BOOKING! Clasie has gone into the book. I can't tell you what for because I was typing away to you!

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad and Saints have comfortably held on to their narrow advantage until the break. Their goal came in somewhat fortuitous circumstances but they deserve to be ahead. City have offered very little in the final third.

City have made a change at the break with Kelechi Iheanacho coming on for De Bruyne. Interesting...

Southampton get us back underway at the Etihad.

BOOKING! There's certainly a lot more urgency from City but they still can't get any shots away. Back up the other end, Kolarov has gone into the book for a block on Austin.

BOOKING! Romeu follows Kolarov into the book although it seems a little harsh. It was a strong challenge on Gundogan but it didn't warrant a yellow card.

Sterling is running at the Southampton defence every time he receives the ball and a sublime cross into the middle should find its target but it misses two players who were running in at the back post.

City have their equaliser and it comes from the substitute Iheanacho. An exquisite ball from Fernandinho finds Sane on the left flank and after biding his time, he sends a low ball into the middle where the young forward converts from eight yards.

BOOKING! The fourth booking in 13 minutes goes to Kompany, who brings an abrupt halt to a Southampton break-away by fouling Van Dijk.

BOOKING! Now Aguero is cautioned! he can have no complaints. He has just kicked Austin up in the air on the touchline. This is getting a bit feisty.

A nasty clash of heads has left Van Dijk requiring treatment but Kompany looks ok to continue without the physio making an appearance. The Dutchman is back up.

It shouldn't be long until we have a wave of substitutions. City are planning one and Southampton two...

SUBSTITUTION! Clasie replaces Hojbjerg and it appears that Boufal is coming on for Tadic but Van Dijk appears to be carrying a knock so that change has been scrapped for now.

SUBSTITUTION! The change is now happening! On comes Boufal for Tadic. Can the club-record signing live up to his billing? There are 20 minutes to go at the Etihad.

CHANCE! Gundogan slips the ball through to Silva via the aid of a small deflection but the Spaniard is in down the left side of the box. However, his shot is straight at Forster and the opportunity goes.

CHANCE! Another chance at the Etihad but this time, it is for Southampton. Boufal does superbly to find Austin on the outside of the box but despite his first touch taking him closer to goal, his strike is well punched away by Bravo.

SUBSTITUTION! This is an interesting change. Jesus Navas has replaced Kompany. I don't think he is injured but obviously lacking in match fitness.

Just eight minutes to go at the Etihad and this match is still evenly poised. Southampton aren't settling for the point.

SUBSTITUTION! Saying that, Austin is now being withdrawn for James Ward-Prowse. That will see Boufal go further forward.

CHANCE! We've not seen this at all today. Augero goes on a direct run from just inside the Southampton half but after getting into the box, he can only fire across goal.

A sensational move from Southampton ends with Kolarov being forced to head a McQueen cross behind for a corner. It comes to nothing, however. They haven't made the most of any set-pieces this afternoon.

Time is running out for City. Southampton are still showing the greater ambition. Nolito is about to be introduced for added-on time.

There will be five minutes of added-on time.

City are throwing men forward but Southampton are throwing men in front of the ball. They will deserve this point, if they hold out...

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Southampton have comfortably held on to earn a 1-1 draw. While the Saints were fully deserving of their point, City were well below par and Guardiola has now seen his side fail to win in five matches. Still, they have returned to the top of the table.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope that you can stick around for the game between Chelsea and Manchester United which is coming right up. Goodbye for now.