Saints to start for Mancini’s men.
Manchester City will begin the defence of their Premier League title at newly-promoted Southampton on 18 August before travelling to Liverpool to face new Anfield boss Brendan Rogers.
City fans will have to wait until 8 December for the first League meeting with Manchester United at the Etihad, before entertaining their fiercest rivals on 6 April. Significantly, City have home games in five out of six weekends following midweek Champions League group games, while United have away games in five out of their six.
Roberto Mancini’s side have a relatively gentle looking run-in, facing West Ham, Swansea, Reading and, finally, Norwich City in their last four games, with the Sky Blues faithful undoubting hoping they don’t leave winning the title quite as late as last season.