Manchester City vs Southampton Prediction: Can City create more history at Wembley?

The first FA Cup semi-final takes place on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City take on Southampton at Wembley Stadium (17:15 BST, live on BBC One).

Victory for either side will see them progress to face one of Chelsea or Leeds United in the competition's showpiece next month. Read on for my Manchester City vs Southampton predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

The availability of Rodri remains unclear, as the midfielder missed City's midweek win at Burnley that sent them top of the Premier League.

If the Spaniard is absent, then Nico O'Reilly could be once again drafted into midfield alongside Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland is expected to start up front.

Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias remain long-term absentees for Pep Guardiola's side.

As for Southampton, Mads Roerslev and Alex McCarthy are sidelined through injury, while captain Jack Stephens has emerged as a doubt after pulling out of the starting lineup before the midweek draw with Bristol City.

Flynn Downes and Ryan Manning are both suspended for the tie.

Manchester City vs Southampton Odds

City are 2/9 favourites to win in 90 minutes, giving them an implied win probability 81.8%, the draw is 11/2 and Southampton are 11/1.

Guardiola's men are 1/12 to win the tie, and Saints are 6/1. Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 2/5, and Haaland is favourite to score first 6/4.

Bet Builder - Man City to win in 90 minutes and Nico O'Reilly to score anytime @ 10/3

City's back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Burnley has put them at the summit of the Premier League and a trip to Wembley last month saw them take home the Carabao Cup, so they arrive into Saturday's semi-final in strong form, and chasing a potential domestic treble.

Once again, Guardiola's charges are on the brink of history as no side has reached four FA Cup finals in a row, and they've won their last five matches so it feels foolish to back against them here.

Yes, Southampton are on a 20-game unbeaten streak but they're used to playing lesser opposition, despite a stunning 2-1 win over Arsenal in the previous round, and this City side have shown time and time again, that they rise to occasion when the stakes are high.

I've paired this bet with a goalscorer pick with City being as short as 2/9 to win, and O'Reilly is who I'm tipping here. The 21-year-old played in midfield on Wednesday at Turf Moor, and I'm expecting him to once again on Saturday, but there's every chance he starts at left-back, which hasn't diminished his attacking output.

O'Reilly has nine goals to his name across all competitions, and has netted on his last two visits to the capital - including the Carabao Cup triumph against Arsenal.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis to receive a card @ 3/1

Former City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis looks a cracking bet at 3/1 to go into the referee's notebook.

Not only is the 24-year-old facing his old team, which could see him more fired up than usual, he's tasked with stopping an in-form Haaland. In addition, Harwood-Bellis is Saints' second-most booked player this season (10) behind Downes (15).

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