Manchester City will be looking to recover from back-to-back defeats when they take on Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday.

The champions have slipped down to third in the Premier League table as a result of their unexpected dip in form, which has seen them lose three of their last four outings - as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 70.

City have never lost three successive league games under Pep Guardiola, but they take on a Southampton side enjoying an improvement in their own form under new boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how City could line up for the contest.

Out: Benjamin Mendy (knee), Fabian Delph (suspended), Claudio Bravo (Achilles), Eliaquim Mangala (knee)
Doubtful: Vincent Kompany (muscle), Gabriel Jesus (knock), Fernandinho (thigh)

Man City are expected to still be without Fernandinho for this match as he continues to struggle with a thigh problem, which means that Ilkay Gundogan is likely to continue in midfield.

Guardiola could be able to start Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva together in the Premier League for the first time all season after the latter made his return from a hamstring problem on Boxing Day - a match which also saw De Bruyne make his first league start of the campaign.

Bernardo Silva scored against Leicester, though, so would consider himself unfortunate to miss out should Guardiola choose his two most creative playmakers.

Fabian Delph is suspended for this match which should see Oleksandr Zinchenko come in at left-back, but any other changes for City are less predictable, with Guardiola likely to rotate both in order to keep his squad fresh and to look to get back to winning ways.

Gabriel Jesus remains a doubt with a knock which means that Sergio Aguero is likely to lead the line once again, but Riyad Mahrez is pushing for a recall along with the likes of Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi.