Southampton aim to become the first second-tier side in nearly two decades to reach the FA Cup final as they face Manchester City in this afternoon’s semi-final at Wembley.
The Saints enter this clash on a stunning twenty-match unbeaten streak. Tonda Eckert has transformed the club since taking over earlier in the campaign, guiding them to fourth in the Championship as they hunt automatic promotion.
At Wembley, however, history is not on their side. Southampton have been eliminated in nine of their 13 semi-final appearances and have lost 8 of their last 11 matches at the national stadium.
That said, they stunned top-flight leaders Arsenal in the quarter-finals this month — a result that demonstrated this side is capable of defying the odds. They now seek to topple another Manchester powerhouse, fifty years on from their famous 1976 triumph.
Southampton team news
Eckert heads into the tie with several selection concerns. Flynn Downes and Ryan Manning are both unavailable through suspension, while captain Jack Stephens faces a late fitness test after pulling out on Tuesday. Alex McCarthy and Mads Roerslev remain sidelined with wrist and knee issues, respectively. Daniel Peretz is expected to start in goal as a result.
Shea Charles will be a key figure after his winner against Arsenal, bringing momentum and confidence into the middle of the park. Ross Stewart and Léo Scienza are expected to lead the attack, with Caspar Jander providing defensive stability in midfield alongside them. Eckert remains confident in his squad’s depth to find a tactical solution against a clinical City side.
Southampton predicted lineup
Southampton Predicted XI: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning, Jander, Charles, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Stewart
When will the match kick off?
Saturday’s high-stakes semi-final will kick off at 17:15 BST at Wembley Stadium.
How to watch Manchester City vs Southampton?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC One and TNT Sports 1. The fixture is also available for streaming via BBC iPlayer, Now TV, and Prime Video UK.
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