Southampton Predicted Lineup: Saints to Field Strongest Team Against Stoke City in Carabao Cup

SAINTS manager Russell Martin has vowed to start his "strongest team" that fitness will allow for the Carabao Cup clash with Stoke City.

Southampton kept aside their defensive shortcomings against Arsenal and Leicester City to give a much improved performance against Manchester City. Although the Saints faced their eighth league defeat, Russell Martin's side managed to keep a decent goal-difference as they conceded only once against the defending Premier League Champions.

Now, Southampton will play Stoke City in the Carabao Cup third round, which is an important match to take some much-needed momentum boost for the next league fixture against Everton at the St. Mary's Stadium. A few lineup changes are expected from manager Russell Martin, and on that note, here is the expected Southampton starting lineup to take a massive win over Stoke City.

In the second round of the Carabao Cup, experienced goalkeeper Alex McCarthy gave a masterclass performance as he made two huge saves in the second half to keep the score at 1-1. Later, McCarthy saved Ashley Young's penalty to guide the Saints to a thrilling 6-5 win over Everton on penalties in the third round.

Southampton prepare for Stoke City Cup fixture before back-to-back must-win matches. Southampton prepare for Stoke City Cup fixture before back-to-back must-win matches. dark. Next

Aaron Ramsdale recently gave a brilliant performance against Manchester City despite a 1-0 away defeat, and thus, is expected to be given a rest in this match. Moreover, if McCarthy gives another world-class goalkeeping display in this match, the 34-year-old could get some playing time in the must-win games against Everton and Wolves.

Manager Russell Martin has rebuffed claims that he will make wholesale changes for the Carabao Cup last 16 tie against Stoke at St Mary's on Tuesday night.

Having made 11 changes for the second round trip to Cardiff and 10 alterations for the penalty shoot-out win over Everton in the last round, Saints will field a strong starting XI against Championship opposition.

Previewing the cup clash, Martin said: “I think it's the most important game we've had this season.

“We need to try and win, get to a quarter-final of a cup and we need to build on today [Saturday]. And we'll play the strongest team available to us in terms of fitness and readiness. It's a big, big game for us.

“Definitely won't be 11 changes. There will be some, I think, such is the nature of it and we have two big games after that. But this is the most important one, so we'll play the team that we feel is the most ready to win.”

Featuring for the Under-21s on Friday night, Charlie Taylor was substituted as a precaution with a “niggle” which may put a question mark over his availability.

Elsewhere, Yukinari Sugawara could feature after being an unused substitute at the weekend following a knock, with Flynn Downes likely to be available despite withdrawing late on at Manchester City.

Charlie Taylor gave a good defensive performance in the previous Manchester City match as well as the Everton game and thus, is highly likely to be started against Stoke City as well. Russell Martin can also decide to bring Ryan Manning as a second half substitute at the left-back position if the Saints struggle to create some goalscoring opportunities against the Championship side.

Nathan Wood can return to the centre-back position for this Carabao Cup fixture as well, after his rock-solid defending against Everton in the second round. Alongside Wood, Taylor Harwood-Bellis should be started as the 22-year-old is Southampton's defensive leader in the ongoing season.

Harwood-Bellis gave a heroic central defender performance against his former side Manchester City by making nine clearances and the England U21 captain will want to keep a first clean-sheet this season against Stoke City. Kyle Walker-Peters will again play at the right-back position and the versatile fullback would be keen to register a few goal contributions in this match as well.

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Martin should substitute Walker-Peters early in the second half to bring a young defender such as Juan Larios, in order to avoid Walker-Peters getting an injury during Yukinari Sugawara's absence.

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Cameron Archer came very close to scoring the 1-1 equaliser in the first half against Manchester City, but his attempt was deflected by the goal-post. Archer has scored in the two consecutive matches against Arsenal and Leicester City and the Saints will rely on the 22-year-old again to take a 1-0 lead.

If Southampton score multiple goals before half-time, Kamaldeen Sulemana could get a second half substitute appearance in this match to find his best form. Adam Armstrong was the second top-scorer in the Championship with 21 goals in the previous campaign and should be started in this match to again find his prolific goalscoring form.

Armstrong's struggles in front of the goal led Martin to prefer Archer and Onuachu at centre-forward, and now, the 27-year-old striker needs to score some goals in this match in order to return to the starting lineup. Tyler Dibling was decent in the previous Manchester City game, but the 18-year-old needs to step-up his finishing efforts inside the box.

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Dibling creates a lot of chances in this match and will have to play a key role again as Russell Martin's side would aim to secure a convincing win in this Carabao Cup fixture.

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