Southampton will be looking to end a string of disappointing results against a team that they spent the latter stages of last season battling against for spots in European football: Tottenham Hotspur.
Having gone five consecutive games without a win across all competitions (one draw, four losses) the Saints will be eager to get some positive results in the next few weeks to get their season back on track. That is a task easier said than done, however. Their first challenge is a Spurs side that had gone nine matches without a loss (three draws, six wins) until last week’s surprise loss to Newcastle.
Despite the setback, Mauricio Pochettino, a former Southampton manager, sees his side sitting in fifth and looking in good stead to maintain that sort of position or even push for the top four. The next few matches will be important for those at White Hart Lane in order to try and get some separation from the pack in mid-table with just one result the difference between fifth and 10th.
Key Battle – Victor Wanyama vs Christian Eriksen
Victor Wanyama has received much criticism in recent weeks after some sub-par performances at the heart of midfield. Largely in the team for his screening work in front of the back four, he has failed to help out his defence enough and has been a passenger in most of his side’s attacking play. Ronald Koeman has kept faith in the Kenyan, but has changed his defensive-midfield partner around a few times over the past three games. The solidly built former Celtic man will have to contend with the creative and ever-threatening Eriksen who, even without being on top form in recent matches, can still easily prove the difference in this one.
The Dane who was so critical in Spurs’ 2014-15 campaign is yet to reach the same heights in 2015-16 but with six assists already to his name, he is far from deadweight in this team. A master of finding space in between the lines of midfield and defence, the Spurs playmaker has been at his best from dead ball situations, either delivering the ball into dangerous areas or going direct.
Team News
Koeman will be sweating on the fitness of Graziano Pellè with the frontman’s absence felt keenly in the last game. Paulo Gazzaniga may continue in goal after a reasonably solid performance against Crystal Palace. It is unclear whether Dusan Tadić will return to the starting lineup with some mystery surrounding his benching against the Eagles.
After an underwhelming display against Newcastle, Tom Carroll may slip from the starting XI and Dele Alli looks set to continue in the number 10 slot after a number of impressive displays.
Head-to-Head
Spurs definitively hold the edge in this fixture having won 35 of the 76 meetings to the Saints’ 23 wins and the remaining 18 as draws.
Previous Meeting
The last meeting between these two sides came at the latter end of last season and finished a 2-2 stalemate at St. Mary’s with a brace to Pellè cancelled out by goals from Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli.
Prediction
Koeman’s side will surely be looking to return to form with a few more difficult prospects in coming weeks and performance may well be improved in this game but Pochettino’s team will be equally eager for three points after the defeat last week. The more creative and unpredictable players for either XI could well be the difference, winning the game with a moment of brilliance.
Southampton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
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