Southampton take on Premier League champions Manchester City with second place spot at stake.

Back in the summer of discontent how many people would have predicted that this game would be a case of second versus third ? the answer is not very many.

Saints go into the second phase of the season knowing that by the time the final whistle has blown in the game against Manchester United in just over a weeks time we will know just how real our challenge for a top four spot will turn out o be.

But first up in this vital three game spell is Manchester City, who have had a mixed start to the season by their own standards, but with Sergio Aquero in the side can beat anyone on their day.

But it is the inconsistency that means that Saints have a chance of beating City, if we can snuff out City's undoubted attacking prowess then we can get something out of this game.

Apart from the long term injuries the only real doubt for Saints seems to be Steven Davis who has been out after getting injured against Leicester City, Davis has been a vital cog in the Saints midfield so it would be a big boost if he was to be fit for this one.

The dilemma for Ronald Koeman is whether the best form of defence is attack, at Villa he went for that although we paid the price by getting caught on the break and that might lead him to look to win the midfield battle first before we impose ourselves going forward.

That being the case he could opt for a workmanlike central trio of Wanyama, Schneiderlin and Cork with Tadic out wide.

On the other side he does have a dilemma, at Villa Shane Long put in a hard working game whilst Sadie Mane looked out of sorts, so the Koeman has a lot of thinking to do, on one hand he could do with the pace and thread of Mane especially if he does go for that workmanlike trio, but on the other hand Long will work harder on tracking back etc and that could be crucial.

But whatever the manager's decision its going to b a great day for Saints and a chance to show the country that we are up there on merit, if we can get all three points that will set us up nicely for the coming week not to mention give us a five point lead over City.

Its been a good season so far for Saints lets hope that on Sunday it gets even better.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 13:59 - Nov 29 On the Mane vs Long debate, I would think Mane will start. Man City will be much more attacking than Villa and Mane's pace can exploit the space that Zabaletta will leave when going forward. Other than that I would like to see Cork alongside Spider and Victor if Davis is not fit. This should be a much more entertaining match than the Villa one as both sides will want the win.

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Consigliere added 19:23 - Nov 29 By and large the results have gone the wrong way for Saints today - EXCEPT that Sunderland have just managed to draw with Chelsea! Time to think big, really big!
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