Southampton-Aston Villa is a match valid for the twenty-first day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 16:00: statistics, TV, formations, predictions.
The resounding League Cup victory at the expense of Manchester City had not come by chance. That success, which in a few weeks’ time will allow the Saints to play for access to the League Cup final against Newcastle, restored Southampton’s vigour. Who not even four days later won the all-important Goodison Park clash against Everton, overturning Onana’s goal with a Ward-Prowse double.
Nathan Jones’ side are still at the bottom of the table, but they share – so to speak – the last position with West Ham and Everton, who are ahead of them only by a mere matter of goal difference. The salvation zone, however, is just a stone’s throw away: barely a point separates Southampton from Bournemouth and after this mini-series of consecutive victories the red-and-whites appear all but doomed. However, the new-found enthusiasm must not be squandered, but above all Jones will have to improve his team’s home performance, which is the worst in the Premier League with only six points – the result of one win and three draws – won at home. In the hope of receiving good news from the market, the Saints coach will try to take more care of the non-possession phase: in front of his own public Southampton have conceded at least one goal since last April.
Aston Villa and the problem of continuity
Uni Emery’s Aston Villa are on the scene in the south of England this weekend. The Basque coach, in charge since last November, has all in all managed to bail out the Villans, who no longer have anything to do with the fight for relegation.
Dibu Martinez
To aim for Europe, however, more continuity will be needed. Since Boxing Day, however, the Birmingham club have racked up two defeats, two wins and a draw. Last Friday, Bailey and Buendia gave the former Villarreal coach the three points (2-1) in the match against Leeds, but the feeling is that there is still a lot of work to be done to start to permanently frequent the left-hand side of the table. Starting with the away performance, where Aston Villa have so far lost five times in nine games.
The Prediction
Southampton are a more confident team than they were a few weeks ago and it’s not out of the question that they can at least avoid defeat against a patchy Aston Villa side that has often limped away from home. Let’s imagine both of them scoring at least one goal each in a match that could provide some excitement.
Southampton v Aston Villa matchday squad
- SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-1-2): Bazunu; Lyanco, Salisu, Caleta-Car; Walker-Peters, Diallo, Lavia, Elyounoussi; Ward-Prowse; Edozie, Adams.
- ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Kamara, Dougals Luiz, J. Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Bailey.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
