Southampton vs Manchester City Prediction, Preview, Team News and Lineups 10.05.2025

• Date and Time: Saturday, May 10, 2025, 16:00 GMT+1
• Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, England

Southampton vs Manchester City Preview and Team News 

Southampton Team News

Southampton’s month reads like the anatomy of relegation. They capitulated 3-0 at home against Villa three weeks ago, while they squandered a lead in a 2-1 home defeat by Fulham a week later. However, the flat 2-0 loss against fellow strugglers Leicester last weekend was the most damaging.

Southampton, sitting deep in a 4-5-1 formation in recent matches, are trying to limit the damage after their earliest-ever relegation was confirmed against Spurs on April 6. In this game, they ceded territory, relied on Aaron Ramsdale’s reflexes and were beaten 3-1 despite registering just one big chance, a snapshot of the month’s pattern. 

Limbering up for Leicester 💪 pic.twitter.com/61Lxd1Pr7N

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 2, 2025

Interim boss Simon Rusk, appointed when Ivan Jurić was sacked on April 8, kept the block compact: Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis tucked to the edge of their six-yard box while full-backs Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning looked for quick outlets into Kamaldeen Sulemana on the break. 

The shape frustrated Aston Villa for 70 minutes before fatigue saw the Saints concede three late goals and a club-record 13th home defeat. 

With the ball, Southampton was minimalist – only 216 passes and 34 % possession in the 1-2 loss to Fulham underline their low-risk strategy.

In terms of injuries, Rayn Fraser remains sidelined with muscular issues.

Southampton predicted lineup vs Manchester City

Southampton predicted lineup vs Manchester City (3-4-3): Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Downes, Ugochukwu, Manning; Fernandes, Sulemana; Stewart

Manchester City Team News

Manchester City arrive on the south coast in the middle of a late-season surge. This has hauled them from the fringes of the European race into a position where a top-three finish is suddenly realistic. 

Kevin De Bruyne’s winning goal against Wolves extended their unbeaten league streak to eight matches. It also highlighted how Pep Guardiola’s hybrid 3-2-4-1 formation, with inverted full-backs moving inside. This strategy is finally working well again after a challenging autumn marked by injuries to Rodri, John Stones, and, most importantly, Erling Haaland.

A trip to St Mary’s on the horizon 🛣️

🤝 #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/ZbivKCr84z

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 5, 2025

Manchester City’s attack during March and April has been a story of enforced reinvention that is beginning to look like deliberate evolution. 

Injuries to Erling Haaland and Rodri removed the two men who normally anchor City’s vertical spine. Yet, Pep Guardiola’s side still produced 14 goals and 2.05 expected-goals per league game across the two months by leaning even harder on a fluid 3-2-5 that sometimes tilted into a narrow 4-2-2-2. 

Two themes bound the period together: full-backs stepping into advanced channels to compensate for the missing striker, and relentless half-space occupation by Kevin De Bruyne, Omar Marmoush and Bernardo Silva that pulled opposing back-lines apart. 

In-front at Old Trafford 💪

Join the Matchday Live team for analysis ⤵️ https://t.co/r0z7iPk6rQ

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 4, 2025

The result was an attack that looked lighter but moved faster. The goals came from unusual sources, such as Josko Gvardiol and Rico Lewis. Meanwhile, Jeremy Doku or Savinho acted less as chalk-on-the-boots wingers than as turbo-charged dribblers between the lines.

Whether the experiment continues once Erling Haaland is ready to start will dictate how the champions-in-transition look next season.

For now, Rodri and Haaland have re-joined full training. However, Guardiola hinted he will not risk the Spaniard from the start, preferring to manage his minutes with the FA Cup final looming. John Stones and Nathan Aké remain out.

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Southampton

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Southampton (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Kovacic, Gundogan; Doku, De Bruyne, Marmoush

Southampton vs Manchester City Prediction 

• Pick: Manchester City to win
• Odds:  1.2 (22Bet)
• Score prediction: Southampton 0-4 Manchester City

Manchester City are the overwhelming favorites heading into this match. 

Their attacking strength and Southampton’s defensive vulnerabilities suggest a comfortable victory for the visitors. City’s tactical setup, with inverted full-backs and a fluid front line, is expected to overwhelm Southampton’s defense.

Southampton vs Manchester City Prediction, Betting Tip

• Pick: Manchester City Total Over 2.5
• Odds: 1.72 (22Bet)

Man City have been prolific in front of goal, especially in recent matches. They scored five goals in a 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace showing their great attacking form. Additionally, they secured a 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest with goals from Gvardiol and Lewis.

Southampton have struggled defensively throughout the season. They have conceded an average of 2.5 goals per match, and 8 of their last 10 matches have ended with over 2.5 goals. 

In their recent match against Leicester City, Southampton conceded two goals. Such defensive frailties make them susceptible to conceding multiple goals against a high-scoring team like Manchester City.

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