Manchester City will be hoping to have made a significant dent in their cross-city rivals' lead at the top of Premier League by the end of this weekend. United have the distraction of the midweek meeting with Real Madrid and are likely to rest players, whereas City should be far stronger than in recent weeks, with Vincent Kompany and Yaya Touré decent bets to start against Southampton. Mauricio Pochettino has injury concerns over his full-backs but could hand Adam Lallana a first start since December. James Callow
Venue St Mary's, 5.30pm Saturday
Tickets £38-48 (02381 780780)
Last season N/A
Referee Martin Atkinson
This season's matches 18 Y71, R1, 4.00 cards per game
Odds Southampton 5-1 Man City 4-6 Draw 16-5
Probable starters in bold, contenders in light Photograph: Graphic Southampton
Subs from K Davis, Gazzaniga, Richardson, Forren, Ward-Prowse, Chaplow, S Davis, Do Prado, Lee
Doubtful Lallana (match fitness), Shaw (knee), Clyne (leg)
Injured Fonte (knee, 24 Feb)
Suspended None
Form guide DLDDWD
Disciplinary record Y25 R0
Leading scorer Lambert 11
Manchester City
Subs from Nielsen, Pantilimon, Lescott, K Touré, Sinclair, Kolarov, García, Nasri, Rodwell, Dzeko
Doubtful Kompany (calf)
Injured Richards (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide DDWWWW
Disciplinary record Y40 R3
Leading scorer Dzeko 11
Match pointers
• Saints have dropped more points from winning positions in the top flight than any other team this season (24)
• Edin Dzeko has scored five goals in his past six Premier League appearances
• Morgan Schneiderlin has made more interceptions (84) and tackles (99) than any top?flight player this season
• Southampton have won none of their games against teams currently in the top half of the Premier League table
• City have allowed their opponents fewer shots on target than any other team in the top flight (65)
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