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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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