Man City vs Southampton LIVE
Manchester City take on Southampton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup this afternoon. Pep Guardiola’s men arrive at Wembley Stadium full of confidence after they ended Arsenal’s six-month stint at the top of the Premier League table in midweek. Erling Haaland scored the winner in a narrow 1-0 victory at Burnley which brought City level on points with the Gunners, and allowed them to leapfrog them on goals scored.
They had already beaten Mikel Arteta’s side last weekend in a 2-1 thriller at the Etihad Stadium, with Rayan Cherki and Haaland on target to bring them to within three points of the north London club. Southampton, who dumped Arsenal out of this competition in the last round, are aiming to become the first non-Premier League outfit to win the oldest trophy in football for 46 years.
Tonda Eckert’s side are locked in a promotion race in the Championship in a bid to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking. They take on third-placed Ipswich Town in a huge clash next week. Keep up to date with all the latest from Wembley with our live blog below.
Man City vs Southampton latest updates
- GOAL! Nico thunderbolt gives City late lead
- GOAL! Doku's deflected effort levels
- GOAL! Azaz stunner opens scoring
- GOOD SAVE! Peretz thwarts Marmoush
- NO GOAL! Scienza opener chalked off
- OFF THE POST! Reijnders denied early
FT: Man City 2-1 Southampton
19:12 , Oli GentThat’s it, and City are into the FA Cup final!
Man City 2-1 Southampton
19:07 , Oli Gent90+2 mins: Seven added minutes.
Man City 2-1 Southampton
19:06 , Oli Gent90 mins: Off the line! City spurn a huge chance for a third as Doku beats Peretz to the ball as the Saints throw everyone forward for a corner, but he - nor Nunes - can convert as the yellow shirts flood back! Wood clears off the line from Nunes!
Man City 2-1 Southampton
19:04 , Oli Gent89 mins: Fellows and Bree are replaced by Edozie and Archer.
Goal! Man City 2-1 Southampton
19:02 , Oli Gent87 mins: City have surely won it now, and there’s the unstoppable strike that they craved. Nico Gonzalez, standing in for Rodri, has leathered one beyond Peretz!
Man City 1-1 Southampton
19:00 , Oli Gent86 mins: Bernardo Silva replaces Reijnders.
Man City 1-1 Southampton
18:59 , Oli Gent85 mins: Great save! Trafford is called into action as Larin holds it up well and lays it off for Matsuki, and the City keeper tips it over brilliantly.
Goal! Man City 1-1 Southampton
18:58 , Oli Gent83 mins: It’s all square, as Doku levels thanks to a wicked deflection. City were threatening, and the Belgian gets a slice of good fortune as he cuts in off the left, and it cannons past Peretz off Bree.
Man City 0-1 Southampton
18:56 , Oli Gent82 mins: How do City respond from that hammer blow? The stars are already on the pitch...
Goal! Man City 0-1 Southampton
18:54 , Oli Gent79 mins: It’s there, and Southampton are ahead! It’s Finn Azaz who’s got it, and what a strike! Jander wins the ball well, and Azaz picks it up, curling one into the far corner beyond Trafford!
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:51 , Oli Gent77 mins: Welington is down getting treatment and cannot continue. Matsuki replaces him.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:48 , Oli Gent73 mins: Three chances in the space of 15 seconds as City streak forwards. Nunes forces Peretz into a save before Cherki fires against Jander, and Reijnders strikes wide!
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:46 , Oli Gent71 mins: O’Reilly and Haaland are being introduced, with Marmoush and Ait-Nouri making way. The big-game players are on.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:42 , Oli Gent67 mins: It’s all City now as the Premier League leaders are banging on the Saints’ door. Can the Championship side hold out?
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:39 , Oli Gent65 mins: Nunes gets to the byline and Jander steps in to concede the corner. It’s worked short between Savinho and Cherki and results in the Brazilian curling one at goal, but Peretz gets down to deny him.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:38 , Oli Gent64 mins: City are getting closer as the ball is slid across the box from Cherki and Marmoush throws himself at it, but he can’t get the touch.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:36 , Oli Gent62 mins: Cyle Larin replaces Stewart and Shea Charles is on for Bragg.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:35 , Oli Gent61 mins: Reijnders drops deeper alongside Nico, with Doku on the left and Savinho wide right. Cherki now sits in the No10 hole.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:32 , Oli Gent60 mins: Kovacic and Foden are replaced by Savinho and Jeremy Doku.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:32 , Oli Gent58 mins: Two big blocks from Wood to stop Cherki and Nunes in their tracks.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:30 , Oli Gent56 mins: Stewart has his first shot on target from range, but it doesn’t trouble Trafford.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:29 , Oli Gent54 mins: A chance for City as Reijnders stands over a free kick in a dangerous area, but they waste the chance as they work it out to Foden, but he leans back as he hits one from the edge of the area.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:25 , Oli Gent50 mins: Nunes looks to be moving ok after his injury worry in the first half. Better news for City.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:22 , Oli Gent47 mins: An early scare for City as Azaz beats Ait-Nouri to the ball and sets Fellows through, but he dallies and Ake recovers to avert the danger.
Kick off!
18:20 , Oli Gent46 mins: Back underway.
First half stats
18:17 , Oli GentHT: Man City 0-0 Southampton
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 25, 2026
All square at Wembley. ⏸️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/fuh3I0TWJh
HT: Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:04 , Oli GentThere's the interval. Nothing to split the two sides in an entertaining first period. What will the second 45 have in store?
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:02 , Oli Gent45 mins: Two added minutes.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
18:00 , Oli Gent43 mins: Nunes is back on for City.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:59 , Oli Gent42 mins: Not good news for City as Nunes is down on his own and in some pain. Khusanov is stripped and ready to replace him.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:56 , Oli Gent39 mins: Southampton have stamped their authority on this game and are not rolling over easily. They’ve had some good passages of play in this first half.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:51 , Oli Gent36 mins: Good save! Marmoush spins into the box, fed in by Kovacic, and Peretz gets down well to thwart him.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:49 , Oli Gent33 mins: Over half an hour played and this is not a scoreline many would have predicted moving towards half time. Southampton have applied themselves well so far.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:46 , Oli Gent30 mins: Fellows sends it in towards Harwood-Bellis, but the Saints defender can’t get on the end of it.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:46 , Oli Gent29 mins: Fellows goes down under challenge from Ait-Nouri this time, and wins another set play for the Championship side.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:43 , Oli Gent26 mins: Free kick, Southampton. A good touch from Fellows as Cherki chops him down. A decent position for the Saints, with Welington over it. He clips in towards Harwood-Bellis, but Ake nods it clear.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:39 , Oli Gent23 mins: Close! A first real sight of goal for Stewart as Scienza gets a cross in from the left in towards the big striker, but he can only nod over the top.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:37 , Oli Gent21 mins: The two Gallagher brothers are in attendance as well, in the same box.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:36 , Oli Gent20 mins: Close! Kovacic has been electric with a weaving run between the bodies. He breaks into the box and looks for the cross-shot from the angle, but Marmoush can’t get on the end of it.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:34 , Oli Gent17 mins: Marmoush is a real threat in behind as he speeds in beyond the centre-backs, but Wood is there again on the cover.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:29 , Oli Gent13 mins: No goal! Southampton think they’ve opened the scoring as Leo Scienza breaks away and slots into the far corner, but the flag is up! Stewart knocks it down as he beats Nunes in the air, and Azaz slides Scienza in, but the striker is offside!
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:28 , Oli Gent12 mins: Great covering from Nathan Wood as Marmoush latches onto Nunes’ ball in behind. He’s in on goal, but the Saints centre-back slides in and averts the danger.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:27 , Oli Gent11 mins: The Championship side are clamouring for a penalty as Reijnders challenges Azaz on the edge of the area and the Irishman goes down, but nothing doing, says the referee.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:26 , Oli Gent9 mins: A first period of possession for the Saints, but it’s quickly quashed as City regain control. It’s been a one-sided opening 10 minutes, but only one real opening so far.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:22 , Oli Gent6 mins: Off the post! City come so close to an opener inside the first few moments as Marmoush breaks away and feeds Reijnders, who forces Peretz into a good save onto the woodwork!
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:20 , Oli Gent5 mins: It’s Foden on the left and Cherki on the right in terms of City’s wide men. But both will most certainly have licence to roam infield with Ait-Nouri and Nunes keeping the width.
Man City 0-0 Southampton
17:18 , Oli Gent3 mins: A bit jarring to see Mateo Kovacic with a full head of hair. That’s probably indicative of how long he’s been out...
Kick off!
17:16 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning
17:13 , Oli GentThe players are out at Wembley.
Ten minutes to kick off
17:05 , Oli GentWho will win this one?
"They should be playing for Liverpool!" 😅
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 25, 2026
Steven Gerrard and Ange Postecoglou discuss how much Man City's January signings have helped the team improve 📈@laura_woodsy | TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/hMZbWHlanv
Scores on the doors
16:53 , Oli GentHow are the other Premier League sides faring today?
Are Spurs winning their must-win match at Wolves?
Fan reaction
16:48 , Oli GentBackline is interesting. John Stones captaining brings calm progression, while Rayan Ait-Nouri adds that natural width and drive on the left. Matheus Nunes at fullback again shows Pep wants control and ball carrying from deep areas.
— Quant (@Quant_Footy) April 25, 2026
Bernardo Silva's last taste of an #EmiratesFACup semi-final with @ManCity 🥹
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 25, 2026
It is now the eighth time in a row he's been involved in the club's matchday squad at this stage of the competition 💪 pic.twitter.com/idLj4nHCdv
As for the Saints...
16:36 , Oli GentThere are few former City players in the Saints squad today.
Remember when they went out and bought a load of City’s young players? Well, some of them are in today’s cohort.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis used to captain the City youth teams from centre-back and he starts today, while Shea Charles and Samuel Edozie also came through the ranks of today’s opponents.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich loanee Daniel Peretz continues in goal, and Eckert has backed a four-man defence over a five, with James Bree at right-back and Welington on thne left, with both picking up Cherki or Foden.
Casper Jander and Cam Bragg are the double pivot with Irish playmaker Finn Azaz ahead of them, and Leo Scienza and Tom Fellows hold the width, tasked with feeding the big man in the middle Ross Stewart.
Let's look at these teams...
16:27 , Oli GentFor City, there is plenty of rotation, as expected.
James Trafford has been the regular cup ‘keeper for Guardiola this term, while John Stones and Nathan Ake get run-outs as Abdokudir Khusanov and Marc Guehi are given rests.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is in at left-back ahead of Nico O’Reilly. while Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic are in midfield in Rodri’s absence, while Bernardo Silva is on the bench.
Tijjani Reijnders plays in a more advanced role with Rayan Cherki keeping his place and Phil Foden handed a rare start, and Omar Marmoush deputises for Erling Haaland.
Southampton lineup
16:20 , Oli GentSouthampton XI: Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Welington; Jander, Bragg; Fellows, Azaz, Scienza; Stewart
Subs: Long, Quarshie, Jelert, Charles, Matsuki, Robinson, Edozie, Archer, Larin
Man City lineup
16:15 , Oli GentMan City XI: Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri; Nico, Kovacic, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden, Marmoush
Subs: Donnarumma, Haaland, Doku, Guéhi, Bernardo, Savinho, O'Reilly, Khusanov, Lewis
Team news in five
16:09 , Oli GentWho will start for City? Will Pep go strong?
Last time out!
16:05 , Oli GentSouthampton stunned Arsenal to earn their place at Wembley in the last round.
Fancy reliving how they did it?
A famous Wembley walk! 🙌
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 25, 2026
Who will come back down the tunnel having sealed their spot in the #EmiratesFACup Final by the end of today? pic.twitter.com/Xnc9zAfnCo
Follow live!
15:50 , Oli GentArsenal take on Newcastle United this evening in a massive clash that could affect where the title will end up come May.
Should the Gunners win, they will move back to the top of the tree, with City accumulating that game in hand again...
Liverpool vs Palace
15:45 , Oli GentLiverpool take on Crystal Palace in a huge game for the Premier League race to qualify for the Champions League.
The Reds can leapfrog Aston Villa with a win...
Also today
15:37 , Oli GentTottenham take on Wolves in a huge scrap at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Match odds
15:30 , Oli GentMan City to reach final: 1/14
Southampton to reach final: 7/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Head to head
15:23 , Oli GentThis will be the first meeting between these two sides since matchday 36 of the 2024/25 Premier League season, when they dragged out a goalless draw at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Man City wins: 35
Southampton wins: 30
Draws: 24
Standard Sport prediction
15:15 , Oli GentMan City’s performances in the FA Cup have carried an air of inevitability in recent seasons, though they are making an odd habit of falling at the final hurdle.
They were beaten in the final by Crystal Palace last season, and Manchester United the season before that, and will be fully intent on reaching the final again this year.
Southampton will prove a tricky opponent, though, having lost only one of their last 22 matches. The onus will be on the Saints to pull off another upset, but can they keep this magic cup run going?
We expect the City machine to continue rolling on, though Eckert’s men will give them a scare.
Man City to win, 2-1.
Southampton team news
15:08 , Oli GentFor Southampton, Flynn Downes is suspended after being sent off against Swansea for violent conduct. Ryan Manning is also serving a suspension.
Elsewhere, captain Jack Stephens is a doubt after dropping out of the side to face Bristol City in midweek.
Man City team news
15:00 , Oli GentMan City will be without Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri after he was injured in the defeat of Arsenal last week, with Guardiola unwilling to risk him.
Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are still out.
How to watch
14:53 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One and TNT Sports. Coverage will start at 4.45pm on BBC One and 4pm on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website. Those with a TV license can also follow the action on BBC iPlayer.
Hello and welcome!
14:45 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Manchester City against Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals.
A first of two last-four encounters over this weekend, with Chelsea versus Leeds United to follow tomorrow.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 5.15pm.
