Man City XI vs Southampton: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for FA Cup today

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Evening Standard

·25. April 2026

Man City XI vs Southampton: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for FA Cup today

Premier League leaders hope to stay on track for domestic treble at Wembley

Manchester City could make changes as they face Southampton in today’s first FA Cup semi-final showdown at Wembley.

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Pep Guardiola spoke of his “doubts” ahead of a midweek trip to Burnley in the Premier League, citing plenty of fatigue within his squad following a gargantuan effort to defeat title rivals Arsenal 2-1 last weekend.

That victory moved City to within three points of the Gunners at the summit, and a 1-0 win at Turf Moor on Wednesday night then saw them go top of the table on goals scored.

Guardiola made just one change at Burnley to the side that beat Arsenal, with the injured Rodri replaced by Rayan Ait-Nouri. Ait-Nouri was fielded at left-back, with Nico O’Reilly shifting into midfield alongside Bernardo Silva.

You would expect Guardiola to shuffle his pack today against Championship opposition, especially with a potentially tricky trip to Everton to follow in the league next week.

Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will not be risked at Wembley. Also on the treatment table are defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, with neither ready for this match.

Cup goalkeeper James Trafford should replace Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Matheus Nunes could be handed a rest at right-back, with Rico Lewis perhaps getting a rare nod.

Starter: James Trafford has been a regular in goal for Manchester City in the cup competitions this season

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The same could be said for Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi, who have struck up a solid partnership in central defence in recent weeks, with John Stones and Nathan Ake waiting in the wings.

At left-back, O’Reilly’s rival Ait-Nouri was called upon at Turf Moor, but was sacrificed in the second half for midfield solidity as Nico Gonzalez replaced him.

That should see the Algerian operate on the left side of defence once more, with an opportunity for Nico to start, and Tijjani Reijnders could also come into the side.

Mateo Kovacic has recovered from an ankle injury and could also be handed some minutes, while Phil Foden will be hoping for what would be a rare start ahead of the in-form trio of Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo.

Erling Haaland could be on the bench with Omar Marmoush given the nod up top.

Predicted Man City XI (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez, O’Reilly; Foden, Reijnders, Savinho; Marmoush

Injured: Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri

Time and date: 5.15pm BST on Saturday April 25, 2026