Manchester City welcome in Southampton FC for a Premier League clash on Saturday that looks pretty lopsided on paper. City resemble a side that has one hand on the league title already while Saints might be a threat for relegation. City do have some fitness concerns though, starting with Kyle Walker.
The English international and versatile defender has an abdominal injury that will sideline him for weeks. He might even miss the World Cup.
Southampton at Manchester City FYIs
Kick-off time: 5.30 PM GMT, 22nd January 2022
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go here
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PL Standings: Southampton 7pts 16th, Man City 2nd, 20 pts
PL Form Guide: Southampton LLLWL Man City WWDWW
Google Result Probability: Southampton 9% Man City 87% Draw 4%
“I know how important the World Cup is for the players,” Guardiola said at a news conference yesterday.
“I don’t know [if Walker will be fit].
“Kyle will be out for a while and we don’t have many options. It will be weeks. It is abdominal.”
Other Team News for Both Sides
Fellow Three Lions players John Stones and Kalvin Phillips are with Kyle Walker as long term injury absentees who will remain out of commission here. Meanwhile Rodri wasn’t risked for the Manchester derby demolition and he was an unused substitute in midweek action on the continent. He could be in contention to see action here.
Flipping over to Saints, former Man City man Romeo Lavia is closing in on a return, while Tino Livramento is still stepping up convalescence from a long-term injury to his knee.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.