Man City v Southampton: FA Cup semi-final preview

Saturday 11 April may prove to be a defining date in Manchester City's season. A week after Pep Guardiola's side had knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup, Arsenal had the chance to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points. Instead, they lost at home to Bournemouth.

Since that game, City have won their past three matches, including a crucial triumph against the Gunners, along with Wednesday night's victory at Burnley. It means that City return to the FA Cup sitting top of the Premier League table on goals scored. By the time they face Southampton on Saturday, Guardiola and his players will have led the Premier League for a grand total of 10 days this season.

Celebrations following a workmanlike victory at Turf Moor did not match the exuberance of those that came after last weekend's win over Arsenal, although the result is no less significant. City's ambitions are now firmly aligned with the second domestic treble of Guardiola's near 10-year tenure and they will next target passage to a fourth successive FA Cup final. To do so they must defeat a non-Premier League side – the kind they like to face in this competition.

[BBC] Southampton, though, are likely to provide a far sterner test than the average underdog. The Championship side are on a 20-game unbeaten run, winning 16, and while Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Bristol City ended a run of eight straight victories, Tonda Eckert's team once again showcased their resilience by twice coming from behind to earn a point. Only Lincoln City are currently on a longer unbeaten run in the top four tiers of English football, while Saints' 20-game streak is better than any Premier League outfit has managed this season – underlining the impact that Eckert has made in turning them into promotion contenders since swapping his coaching role with the under-21 side to replace the sacked Will Still in November.