Wednesday 29 November 2017 18:58, UK
Pep Guardiola could turn to the much-maligned Eliaquim Mangala at home to Southampton on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm) as the Manchester City boss attempts to manage Vincent Kompany's fitness.
The City skipper has returned to the team recently but with 11 games to contend with in five weeks, Mangala will get his chance to prove himself as John Stones is out injured.
Mangala spent last season on loan at Valencia and almost left in the summer as City chased Jonny Evans, but now he finally could get a run in the team under Guardiola.
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"He's a player with a lot of experience," Guardiola said. "I'm really impressed with his behaviour in the training sessions. He didn't play regularly until now but he always accepts that and he is always helping.
"For a manager, for a club, for the environment that is so important. He has specific qualities and in this league it's important. We are going to use him. We believe we need him. He's a player for us and he is going to stay here."
Guardiola will come up against former Barcelona team-mate Mauricio Pellegrino, who is now in charge at Southampton.
The former defender says he is surprised that Guardiola has enjoyed such success as a coach at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City.
"I never imagined that he can achieve something like he did," said Pellegrino.
"But obviously as soon as I arrived, Pep was one of these type of players always looking for new ideas, asking how we were training in Argentina, in different places.
"And also he had a good reading on the pitch and it's something that after [he finished playing] he translated much better outside the pitch."
City remain without defenders John Stones and Benjamin Mendy for the visit of Southampton.
Centre-back Stones (hamstring) is likely to be out until the end of December while Mendy (knee) is not expected to play again until April.
Eliaquim Mangala is in contention to play in central defence if captain Vincent Kompany, only recently returned from a hamstring injury, is rested.
Southampton will welcome central midfielder Oriol Romeu back from suspension.
The Spaniard sat out Sunday's 4-1 success over Everton after being handed a one-game ban for picking up five yellow cards.
Fellow midfielder Mario Lemina returned from an ankle problem as a second-half substitute against the Toffees and came through unscathed, but defender Matt Targett (leg) remains sidelined.
Manchester City are unbeaten in seven home games against Southampton in all competitions, winning six (D1), after losing three in a row prior to that run.
Southampton have collected one point in their last six Premier League visits to the Etihad Stadium (W0 D1 L5), doing so in their 1-1 draw there last season.
Manchester City have won 37 points from their 13 matches this season - the best points total by a team at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
On the day of this match, Manchester City will have been top of the Premier League for 74 days this season - just one day fewer than they spent top in the entirety of last season.
Manchester City have scored 24 Premier League goals at home this season, double the number they'd scored after six home matches last season (12).
Saints striker Charlie Austin has had a hand in eight goals in his last 11 Premier League starts (seven goals, one assist), although he hasn't started back to back Premier League matches since December 2016.
Sergio Aguero has had a hand in five goals in his last six Premier League appearances versus Southampton (three goals, two assists).
Aguero has now scored in six successive Premier League appearances (eight goals) and has assisted three more goals during this run for Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling has scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for Manchester City this season; his best-ever goal return in a single club season (all comps).
Only versus Aston Villa (6) has Shane Long scored more Premier League goals than against Manchester City (4). The Irishman has found the net in each of his last two starts against City in the Premier League.
I thought Southampton were good against Everton. The one thing they are is good at is at the back - and on Sunday they scored goals too. But Man City are just relentless and even on Sunday they just kept going and going and going and in the end they just nicked the win - so I am going to go for City.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
