Southampton vs Man City: EPL Match Preview, Predicted Line-ups and Fantasy XI

Manchester City will aim to maintain their recent good form and stay in touch with Arsenal when they take on bottom-placed Southampton.

Manchester City have the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points with a win at Southampton vs Man City.

Match Details:

  • Location: Southampton, England
  • Stadium: St Mary's
  • Date: Saturday 8 April
  • Kick-off Time: 17:30 BST / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PST
  • Referee: Robert Jones
  • VAR: John Brooks

Southampton vs Man City: Match Preview

Saturday's late game sees a clash between two sides with very different fights on their hands. Hosts Southampton find themselves cemented to the bottom of the table, a sizeable four points from safety, while Premier League behemoths, Manchester City, continue to chase down Arsenal in search of a third consecutive top-flight title.

As has been the case all season, these two sides endured differing fortunes last time out.

City will look to push up the table. (Image- Getty Images)

Southampton took a trip to east London on Sunday, knowing a result against fellow relegation-battlers, West Ham, could kickstart a timely survival surge. However, Nayef Aguerd's first goal for the Hammers decided the game, with the visitors failing to score for the 12th time this season, with only Bournemouth (14) and Crystal Palace (13) drawing a blank in the top-flight more often this season.

January-signing Paul Onuachu came closest to scoring for Saints, only to see his late effort come back off the frame of the goal. However, once again, a lack of cutting-edge cost the Hampshire side dearly.


— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2023

While Southampton toiled in the capital, the Cityzens triumphed in Manchester, outgunning their recent title rivals Liverpool to the tune of four goals to one. The Reds did open the scoring via Mohamed Salah, but that turned out to be the Reds' only shot on target of the game (City had eight), and Klopp's underperforming charges were ultimately no match for a rampant home side who strode on to a deserved 4-1 win, their fourth consecutive league victory this season and Guardiola's 100th home victory in the Premier League.

That victory kept the pressure on leaders Arsenal, who themselves enjoyed a 4-1 home win on Saturday, comfortably dismissing a visiting Leeds to keep the gap at the top to eight points, albeit having played a game more than City.

With Southampton coming into this clash four games without a win and Manchester City enjoying a four-game winning streak, the contrast in fortunes could hardly be more stark.

Team News:

Southampton:

Manager Ruben Selles has ruled Che Adams and Mohammed Salisu out of contention to face Man City having returned from the international break with injuries.

Armel Bella-Kotchap will be assessed on a shoulder problem closer to the game. Tino Livramento has resumed training but is not available just yet.

Juan Larios is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Man City:

With their UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich on the horizon, expect a healthy dose of Pep Guardiola FPL roulette here.


— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2023

Erling Haaland could return to the fold having resumed training this week, though Phil Foden is still recovering after a short bout of appendicitis.

Southampton vs Man City: Head to Head

  • Manchester City have a good record against Southampton and have won 40 out of the 100 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Southampton's 33 victories.
  • Southampton have won only one of their last 13 matches against Manchester City in the Premier League, with their previous such victory coming by a 1-0 margin in 2020.
  • Manchester City have won four of their last six away games against Southampton in the Premier League but were held to a 1-1 draw in this particular fixture last season.


— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2023

Predicted Line-ups:

Southampton predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Caleta-Car, Perraud; Ward-Prowse, Lavia; S. Armstrong, Alcaraz, Sulemana; Onuachu

Man City predicted lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Ake; Rodri, Silva, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish

SOU vs MCI: Fantasy XI

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Arsenal vs Manchester United Premier League 2024-25 Highlights | Arsenal hand Ruben Amorim his first defeat as United coach with a 2-0 win

Get the highlights of the epic Premier League 2024-25 clash of Arsenal vs Manchester United as Arsenal handed Ruben Amorim his first defeat as Manchester United coach with a 2-0 win.

Koushik Biswas

Dec 5, 2024, 9:57 AM

Arsenal vs Manchester United Premier League 2024-25 LIVE Updates | Timber scores for Arsenal; ARS 1-0 MUN - sportzpoint.com

Hello and welcome to another Premier League LIVE coverage brought to you by Sportz Point. Tonight, we will be covering the epic encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United at the iconic Emirates Stadium in London. 

What to expect?

Manchester United somehow have reignited themselves under their new charismatic coach Ruben Amorim while Arsenal looking to catch Liverpool at the top of the table to stay in the title race. As both teams have plenty to win and even more to lose, this Arsenal vs Manchester United match becomes more interesting for the fans and viewers.

Read Also | Arsenal vs Manchester United: Match Preview, Head-to-Head Stats, Predictions, Possible Lineups

So, sit back and relax as we bring you all the build-up, updates, news and scores of the match. Enjoy the coverage.

LIVE Updates
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Arsenal vs Manchester United: Match Preview, Head-to-Head Stats, Predictions, Possible Lineups

Check out the full match preview, previous records, head-to-head stats, predictions, injury updates and possible lineups of the Arsenal vs Manchester United clash in Premier League 2024-25 season.

Muojindu Francis

Dec 4, 2024, 1:50 PM

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Match Preview, Head-to-Head Stats, Predictions, Possible Lineups - sportzpoint.com

Arsenal vs. Manchester United has been a feature of the Premier League schedule from the ferocious matches of the Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson era to current matchups involving up-and-coming talents. This rivalry is more than just a game; it's a display of pride, football history, and the ongoing struggle for dominance between two of the best teams in England.

Match Details

Match: Arsenal vs Manchester United

Date: 04/12/2024

Time: 1:30 am (IST)

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England.

Match Preview:

Struggles have marked Manchester United's season, but the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim has sparked a remarkable turnaround. The team is yet to lose under his leadership, with many attributing this resurgence to the "new manager bounce" phenomenon, where players step up to prove their worth. However, there is a noticeable improvement in United's attacking play beyond this initial lift. Amorim's high-intensity pressing and reliance on hardworking full-backs have added a new dimension to their game. Critics argue that the teams he has faced so far are not the strongest, making Arsenal his first real test.

For Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, this fixture holds special significance. In 2020, he masterminded a historic victory at Old Trafford, breaking a 14-year winless streak on United's turf, courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty. Despite Arsenal's progress under Arteta, Manchester United remains a formidable challenge.

This season, Arsenal has shown marked improvement, thanks to smart recruitment that has made the team more fluid in transitions and versatile in positional play. The ability to invert both flanks has added unpredictability to their build-up, making them a more cohesive and dangerous side.

Amorim faces a tactical dilemma heading into this match. Should he stick to his system, knowing Arsenal dismantled a Sporting Lisbon side built on his principles, or tweak his approach to counter Arteta's strengths? Balancing his philosophy with United's gradual adaptation to his style will be critical.

On paper, Arsenal appears the favourite, barring any late injuries that have frequently disrupted their season. However, if Amorim can exploit counterattacking opportunities and disrupt Arsenal's rhythm by limiting their time on the ball, United could pose significant problems.

For football enthusiasts, this midweek clash promises to be a perfect way to unwind and enjoy two contrasting styles of play from two historic clubs.

Head-to-Head Stats:

In the last 5 matches Arsenal has gotten the better of Manchester United 3 times with the last being a 1-0 win at the Old Trafford earlier in April this year, while the latter have won the other 2 leaving no room for a draw. however, the sides will face each other 3 times this season with the first one happening today. Below is the head-to-head record since 1995.

Total matches: 70

Arsenal: 23

Manchester United: 31

Draws: 16

Team News

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta and Thomas Partey - sportzpoint.com

While Arsenal has shown resilience in recent weeks, key players remain on the sidelines. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been absent since October 5th, following a 3-1 victory over Southampton, and Ben White is still recovering after undergoing knee surgery.

Midfield stalwart Thomas Partey, one of Arsenal's most consistent performers this season, missed the recent game against West Ham due to a recurring muscle issue. Although he seemed to have overcome this problem earlier in the season, concerns remain about his long-term fitness. The club is optimistic, however, that his absence will not be prolonged.

Additionally, both Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhães have been managing fitness struggles. Gabriel, in particular, has been restricted to just 45 minutes in Arsenal's last two matches. The Brazilian defender first showed signs of discomfort during the Liverpool game, where he was substituted early in the second half.

On a brighter note, Kieran Tierney's return offers a welcome boost. After a summer transfer attempt failed, he has been reintegrated into the squad and is back to full fitness. His availability comes at a critical time, with fixtures piling up and Arsenal needing all hands on deck.

Manchester United

Ruben Amorim in charge of Manchester United

Amorim faces a selection headache with the suspension of English midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez, both sidelined after picking up five yellow cards. These players have been instrumental in implementing the manager's playing philosophy since his arrival. Additionally, the availability of Leny Yoro, Johnny Evans, and Victor Lindelof remains uncertain, further complicating the situation.

Read Also | Ruben Amorin to Man United: What will happen to Erik's Ajax boys at United?

Key Players to Watch

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal vs Mancheste United: Players to watch out - Bukayo Saka - sportzpoint.com

Throughout the 2024–2025 campaign, Bukayo Saka has consolidated his place among Arsenal's and England's top players with 10 assists and 5 goals in 12 matches. His on-field leadership, creativity, and consistency have all been combined to create truly outstanding performances.

Saka's offensive contribution continues to be an essential part of Arsenal's success. With numerous goals and assists, he has played a key role in breaking down defences, particularly in close games when his ability to float past opponents and produce accurate crosses or finishes has been crucial.

Another significant strength has been his adaptability; Saka has fit in well whether used on the right flank, in a more central position, or even sliding deeper to influence build-up play.

What sets this season apart is the increased maturity in his game. Saka has taken on greater responsibility, often stepping up in crucial moments, and with his ability to maintain composure under pressure, he will definitely pose a significant threat to the United Defence.

Read Also | The most shocking goal misses in Football history

Amad Diallo

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Players to watch out - Amad Diallo - sportzpoint.com

Under Ruben Amorim, Diallo secured his position as a vital player by putting on strong performances weekly after being overlooked in prior seasons with his involvement coming only as a squad rotation player.

United's attacking dynamics have greatly benefited from Diallo's rise and creative ability. He has shown remarkable dribbling skills, quick feet, and an eye for goal while playing mainly as a winger. Defences have struggled to keep up with his cutting inside from wide areas and unleashing strong shots or threading clever passes.

He will be an effective tactical weapon heading into this game for United

Possible Lineups

Arsenal: David Raya (GK), Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz, Saka

Manchester United: Andre Onana (GK), Dalot, De Ligt, Mazroui, Shaw, Ugarte, Casemiro, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee, Diallo

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Liverpool secures narrow win against Southampton to extend their lead at the top of the table

Arne Slot's team had to dig deep late into the second half to secure a crucial victory against a very resilient Southampton side. Sportz Point brings you all the details

Muojindu Francis

Nov 24, 2024, 9:06 PM

Liverpool secures narrow win against Southampton to extend their lead at the top of the table

Mohammed Salah once again proved why he is one of the greatest wingers of his generation scoring 2 goals to give Liverpool the much-needed win against Kieran Mckenna's Southampton.

Read Also| Harry Kane becomes the fastest footballer to score 50 Bundesliga goals

First Half

Van Dijk Celebrates with his teammates when they scored against Southampton- Sportz Point.com

Liverpool dominated possession early in the match, but it was Southampton who threatened to open the scoring first as Mateus Fernandes tested Kelleher’s reactions from distance.

Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool the lead with a superb strike in the 30th minute, but Southampton equalized before halftime through Adam Armstrong, who provided a deft finish in the 42nd minute.

The visitors kept on piling the pressure but Southampton was resolute in defending and getting back into shape as quickly as possible which made it difficult to break them down. this kept the scores tied heading into the break.

Read Also| I-League broadcast: Sony Sports Network will telecast the matches on TV from second round

Second Half

Liverpool players celebrate their win against Nottingham forest- Sportz Point.com

The Saints pulled ahead early in the second half when Mateus Fernandes scored in the 56th minute, capitalizing on Armstrong’s assist. However, Liverpool responded with intensity, as Mohamed Salah leveled the match in the 65th minute after a clever setup by Ryan Gravenberch.

Salah sealed the win with a calmly taken penalty in the 83rd minute, completing his brace and securing all three points for the visitors.

Read Also| Five Arsenal stars who left and went on to win the Premier League with other clubs

Southampton fought hard, with Fernandes and Armstrong among their standout performers, but Liverpool's attacking quality proved decisive. The Reds' resilience kept them in contention in the Premier League title race.

Read Also| I-League 2024-25 Fixtures, Teams and Everything you need to know

Final Score

Liverpool- 3 (Szoboszlai 30', Mohammed Salah 65', 83')

Southampton- 2 (Armstrong 42', Fernandez 56')

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Substitutions that changed the football history

From Gareth Bale to Mario Gotze, there have been many instances of substitutions that changed football history. In this article, Sportzpoint explores those legendary substitutions.

Substitutions that changed the football history

Players who earn a place in the starting eleven crash into the headlines mostly, but those who come off the bench are never insignificant. Depending on the situation and for various other tactical and strategic moves, substitute players can make huge differences when things start getting tough on the pitch. 

Sportzpoint explores the greatest substitutions that changed the football history and remained folkloric.

Mario Gotze

(Germany vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup Final 2014)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Wikipedia)

Mario Gotze lived the dream of every footballer back in 2014 when he scored the only goal against Argentina in the Final to take Germany to their fourth World Cup glory

Gotze came off the bench replacing the legendary Miroslav Klose, only two minutes before the full-time whistle but the game ended goalless. However, in the 113 minute of AET, Gotze received Schurrle's pass on the left and from a close range to the goal; and his left-footed strike fooled Argentina keeper Romero to end up in the goal. 

Argentina could not bounce back from this late setback and Germany lifted the World Cup 2014. Mario Gotze's substitution remained one of the most impactful in the history of football. 

Gareth Bale

(Real Madrid vs Liverpool, UCL Final 2017-18)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

Gareth Bale admitted in an interview with FourFourTwo that he was very frustrated after not getting a start for Real Madrid in the 2017-18 UCL Final against Liverpool. However, Bale's fallout with Real Madrid's then-manager Zinedine Zidane led us to experience one of the greatest substitutions in the Champions League's history.

After a goalless first half, Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 51st minute; but Sadio Mane only took 4 minutes to equalize for Liverpool. In the 61st minute, Bale replaced Isco but who would have thought that the Welshman was going to rewrite history and all by himself? 

Only 3 minutes after Bale came on, Marcelo's cross found him in the box and Bale produced an acrobatic overhead volley, and the ball ended up in the net. Bale sealed the victory for Madrid in the 83rd minute with a rocketed strike which made Liverpool keeper Karius fumble and the ball went inside. Coming off the bench, Gareth Bale scored this heroic brace to lead Real Madrid to win their third consecutive UCL title.

Eder

(Portugal vs France, EURO 2016 Final)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

Eder became an overnight sensation after slotting a late strike to win Portugal the EURO 2016, their first-ever major trophy in history

France and Portugal both wasted opportunities in the full-time but things became very wrong for Portugal way before. In the 25th minute, the talisman Cristiano Ronaldo faced a rough challenge from Dimitri Payet, and he was subbed off injured. However, Eder came off the bench in the 79th minute of the Final but the 90-minute of play ended in a stalemate of a 0-0 scoreline.

But it was Eder, who only played 13 minutes in the tournament, stepped up and broke the deadlock to score the only goal in the final in the 109th minute. France could not produce a comeback as Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo lifted their first-ever major international trophy.

Ilkay Gundogan

(Manchester City vs Aston Villa, 2021-22 Premier League)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

It was a neck-to-neck battle between Manchester City and Liverpool in the 2021-22 Premier League title race. Before heading into the last matchday on 22 May 2022, Manchester City was atop the table with 90 points in 37 matches and Liverpool was positioned just behind with 89 points in the same number of games.

Manchester City was set to face Aston Villa in the last match of the season and a win would ensure their fourth consecutive PL title. However, things did not go as planned for Pep Guardiola's men as Matty Cash scored for Villa in the 37th minute, and Philippe Coutinho extended the lead in the 69th minute. Coincidentally, Ilkay Gundogan replaced Bernardo Silva just one minute before Villa's second goal. Man City's title contender Liverpool was playing Wolves at the same time and they were held to a 1-1 draw after 70 minutes.

What happened afterward will always be written in golden words in the Premier League's history. It was Ilkay Gundogan who scored City's first goal in the 76th minute as his powerful header went in. Just two minutes later, Rodri placed a powerful strike to level the scoreline by 2-2 and City was back on top of the table.

It did not take much time for Gundogan to score his second and City's third as he put the ball inside with a close-range tap-in to almost win the league for City! The match eventually ended as City won the game by 3-2 and clinched their fourth consecutive PL title, all thanks to the German's magic after coming off the bench. 

Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 

(Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, 1998-99 UCL Final)

Substitutions that changed the football history-sportzpoint.com

The world witnessed one of the greatest UCL finals ever on 27 May 1999 when Manchester United and Bayern Munich faced off for the coveted glory. Manchester United won the game by 2-1 in such an otherworldly manner that it still mesmerizes the next generation, and everything happened because of two substitute players, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Bayern Munich took an early by scoring in the 6th minute of the match. Manchester United could not break the deadlock and headed into the break trailing 0-1. Teddy Sheringham replaced Jesper Blomqvist in the 67th minute and Solskjaer was brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Andy Cole in the 81st minute. 

The game was in favour of Bayern even after 90 minutes but Sheringham slotted the ball home in just one minute into the injury time to equalize for the Red Devils. Solskjaer achieved the final glory with a simple tap-in only after two minutes, and thus the two substitutes led United to the Champions League victory.

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Unnamed Premier League footballer is reportdely under investigation for multiple sexual offences

An unnamed Premier League footballer, reportedly in his 30s, has been under investigation by Police concerning multiple allegations of sexual offences.

Soumit Bhattacharya

Nov 12, 2024, 12:37 PM

Unnamed Premier League footballer is reportdely under investigation for multiple sexual offences

A Premier League footballer is reportedly under investigation by Police over multiple serious sexual offences. The footballer, reportedly in his 30s, was interrogated by Police officers at a local police station last Thursday regarding the convictions.

According to Daily Star, A Police spokesperson confirmed that the Metropolitan officers are investigating the player over some reports of alleged rapes of two women and a sexual offence to a third woman between 2021 and 2023. The convicted was arrested in July 2022 at a location in west London but continued to play for his club. The Spokesperson further added:

"The investigation remains ongoing and detectives are continuing with in-depth and detailed enquiries. Those who have come forward to police continue to receive support from Met officers."

Premier League faces another uneasy backlash after accusations of prioritizing commercial interests over the serious allegations that sparked in September 2023.

According to BBC, their investigation has led to a discovery that 7 out of 20 Premier League clubs have had players or bosses investigated by the police for sexual offences since 2020.

The said player in his 30s was reportedly detained by Police in July 2022 over accusation of an alleged rape in June 2022. He was further convicted of two incidents in April 2021 and June 2021 but no action was taken regarding those allegations.

However, the player was again arrested by Police in February 2023 in connection with an incident that reportedly happened in West London in February 2022. The identity of the accused footballer remains undisclosed till now. 

Recent accusations against PL players

Premier League and the FA face another uncomfortable accusation of letting players feature for the clubs who are accused of serious allegations. The most recent incident included the former Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood was accused of sexual assault by his girlfriend in January 2022.

Greenwood was dropped from the squad and faced uncertainty about his future at Old Trafford. However, Greenwood was soon released on bail, and he was cleared of all charges after further proceedings. Although Manchester United confirmed that the player was released from his duties.

Another incident that happened in 2021, including former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy, raised severe controversies as the French defender was accused of assaulting a woman in 2021. Following the allegations, Manchester City confirmed that the club will not renew his contract which was supposed to end in June 2023. 

Mendy was arrested and the proceedings of the allegations against Mendy started in August 2022. He was convicted of eight rapes, one attempted rape, and a sexual offence. However, he was cleared of two charges in January 2023 and was found not guilty of the others in July 2023. 

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