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Preview: Manchester City vs. Southampton

Preview: Man City vs. Southampton
© PA Photos
Manchester City kick off the defence of their Premier League title by taking on new boys Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Manchester City begin the defence of their Premier League title with a home clash against newly-promoted side Southampton.

The blue half of Manchester have been relatively quiet in the transfer window this summer so far, with Everton's Jack Rodwell being the only acquisition for manager Roberto Mancini.

While the midfielder is not expected to feature on Sunday, familiar faces should fill the City side, including captain Vincent Kompany, who will line the back four with Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez partnering up front.

Meanwhile, Southampton boss Nigel Adkins is expected to be without Jack Cork after the midfielder picked up an ankle problem during the Saints' pre-season schedule. However, new signings Nathaniel Clyne and Jay Rodriguez are in contention to start at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

While the coastal club have agreed a reported £11.8m fee for Bologna playmaker Gaston Ramirez, the Uruguayan will not be eligible to play on Sunday.

Possible lineups:

Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Yaya Toure, De Jong; Silva, Nasri; Tevez, Aguero

Southampton: K Davis; Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; Guly, Schneiderlin, S Davis, Lallana; Rodriguez, Lambert

Sports Mole says: 3-0

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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