Manchester City predicted lineup vs Southampton - Premier League

Reigning champions Manchester City host a winless Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The last time these sides met - a helter-skelter 5-2 victory for City in March - Pep Guardiola admitted that the deciding factor in a thrilling meeting was 'the money' his club were able to spend on the attacking talents that ultimately overpowered a well-drilled Southampton.

Six months on, City - fresh from rattling six past RB Leipzig - have added the most expensive signing in the history of English football to their roster.

Here's the XI Guardiola may select this weekend.

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Southampton - Premier League

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Ederson (GK) - One of the few that escapes Guardiola's rotation policy normally, the Brazilian number one has his spot even more firmly secured by Zack Steffen's absence.

Kyle Walker (RB) - Rested in midweek, Walker's pace should be on full display against the Saints.

John Stones (CB) - Since lining up for last season's Champions League final, Stones has played nine times for England but is yet to get on the pitch for the club he recently signed a lengthy extension with. In the wake of their midweek win, he may sneak back into the set up.

Ruben Dias (CB) - At times last season, Guardiola seemed almost more impressed with the quantity rather than quality of matches Dias was capable of. That durability will be needed for Saturday.

Joao Cancelo (LB) - On either flank, Cancelo offers a frightening amount of creativity to rival all but one of his teammates - a certain Belgian was the only City player to carve open more chances in the Premier League last season.

2. Midfielders

Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - (Somehow) City's top scorer last season is one of the staggering nine different players that have already found the net in the league after four games - only nine Sheffield United players scored across the entirety of the previous campaign.

Rodri (CM) - Has a firm hold on the most important position in a Guardiola team - the role the Catalan played himself back in the day - Rodri was given less than an hour on Wednesday likely with Saturday in mind.

Bernardo Silva (CM) - Following on from his first league goal since February, the previously want-away midfielder is 'back in the best form and mentality' according to his manager.

3. Forwards

Gabriel Jesus (RW) - City's number nine seems to be now permanently a wide player - a role he's outwardly claimed to prefer and may well excel once more in against Southampton's Premier League rookie Romain Perraud.

Ferran Torres (ST) - Trusted with the central role after a summer in which Man City failed to sign a proper striker.

Phil Foden (LW) - Following a dragging post-Euro layoff, City's 21-year-old academy gem was given his first minutes of the campaign in midweek, and could be in line for his first start come the weekend.