Erling Haaland returns and Jack Grealish starts in Man City predicted line-up vs Southampton

Pep Guardiola confirmed Erling Haaland 'will be ready' for Saturday's trip to Southampton and the Manchester City star is expected to start.

City head to St Mary's with a chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just five points, before Mikel Arteta's side face Liverpool on Sunday. Guardiola will want to remain in touching distance of his title rivals in the build-up to a colossal meeting between the two at the end of the month.

In Southampton, they face a side bottom of the table, winless in their last four and onto their third manager of the season in Ruben Selles - bizarrely, Guardiola will have faced all three come Saturday evening. The Saints knocked City out of the Carabao Cup in January but were comfortably beaten 4-0 at the Etihad in October.

ALSO READ: Man City handed Erling Haaland fitness boost vs Southampton

Haaland scored the last of those four goals and the Norwegian has returned from injury in time to face them, following his withdrawal from international duty with a groin issue. Haaland missed the 4-1 win over Liverpool last weekend but is expected to come straight back in at the expense of Julian Alvarez.

A hat-trick for the 22-year-old - which is never out of the question - would take him onto 45 for the campaign and see him surpass Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mohamed Salah to break the record for most goals across all competitions from a Premier League player.

Alongside Haaland, Jack Grealish is almost certain to continue his fine form on the left after a Man of the Match performance against Liverpool saw him get a goal and an assist. The former Villa man admitted enjoying his football once again after that win, and it is showing with a freedom cutting in from the left not seen since