Two of the most in-form Premier League sides will lock horns on Thursday evening when Newcastle United head down to St. Mary’s to face Southampton.
Southampton have been in superb form since Christmas, which has seen them sustain a position in the top half of the table with the possibility of making a late push for European qualification. However, the Saints were sent crashing down to earth last weekend, when they suffered a 4-0 battering at the hands of Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
That defeat halted Southampton’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including credible draws against both Manchester clubs and a win over Tottenham Hotspur. So their humbling capitulation against the Villans comes as a big shock to everyone.
Despite Southampton’s poor result last weekend, they are still in a good place, sitting ninth in the table, having collected 35 points after 27 league games. That said, a four-team cluster is only two points behind Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, which means they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas if they want to secure a top-half finish.
The Saints will look for a positive result this mid-week when they return to the home comforts of St. Mary’s to face Newcastle United. Hasenhuttl’s men have lost only once at home all season, a record only bettered by Liverpool in the division. They have emerged victorious in each of their last four games on their home turf prior to the visit of the Magpies.
Newcastle, meanwhile, will look to extend their unbeaten run to nine games on Thursday. They continued to climb up the ladder and move away from the relegation zone with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton last time out. The result means the Magpies have now won five of their last six Premier League games and are looking to push for an unlikely top ten finish.
This fixture was originally scheduled to take place in early January. However, the game was postponed due to COVID-19. Both sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park in the reverse fixture with James Ward-Prowse salvaging a late-point for Southampton. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Southampton
Ralph Hasenhüttl speaks LIVE as #SaintsFC get set to host #NUFC ? https://t.co/OATIdCpZeX
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 9, 2022
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is sweating over the fitness of Mohammed Salisu after the defender missed out with a tight hamstring against Villa, while Lyanco and Alex McCarthy are expected to miss out. Shane Long and Nathan Tella also remain doubts ahead of Newcastle’s visit.
Hasenhuttl is likely to keep the changes to a minimum despite their shock 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, with the Southampton boss set to line his side up in his usual 4-4-2 formation. Fraser Forster is in no danger of losing his starting spot in goal for the Saints.
Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens ought to pair up at the heart of the Southampton defence, flanked by Kyle Walker-Peters and Valentino Livramento at left-back and right-back, respectively. The full-back duo will have the license to maraud forward and offer support to the attacking players but will need to be wary of the threat posed by Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin.
Up ahead in midfield, James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu are automatic picks in the central areas, providing stability and forward thrust, while Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong will add the attacking impetus from wider areas. Finally, the strike partnership is expected to be formed by Che Adams and Chelsea loanee Armando Broja once again.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Forster; Livramento, Bednarek, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Stuart Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Adams, Broja
Newcastle United
Newcastle continue to remain without the services of Isaac Hayden, Jamal Lewis, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson, all out with long-term injuries. While Matt Ritchie has returned to full training, it may still be too soon for him to come back after a long lay-off due to a knee issue.
Otherwise, Eddie Howe has no fresh concerns from the victory over Brighton and ideally, the visiting manager would want to stick with the same XI. But with two games in the space of three days to plan, Howe could look to make a minor alteration in the midfield pack, with Bruno Guimaraes expected to finally make his full Newcastle debut here.
Set for the Saints ?
? #SOUNEW pic.twitter.com/jkvtumKMqg
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 8, 2022
Martin Dubravka will be a certain starter in between the sticks, with the Magpies lining up in a customary 4-3-3 formation in front of the Slovakian shot-stopper. At the back, there is no looking past the imposing central defensive partnership of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar. Emil Krafth could keep his place at right-back ahead of Javier Manquillo, while Matt Targett continues to add width down the left flank.
January signing Guimaraes will anchor the midfield-three, with Jonjo Shelvey looking leggy last weekend. Joelinton and Joe Willock will be the workhorses in the middle of the park. The former will likely essay the role of an enforcer while the latter will often charge forward to look for scoring opportunities while also pressing from advanced positions.
Allan Saint-Maximin is pushing to reclaim his starting berth after coming off the bench against Brighton at the weekend. But given Jacob Murphy’s sparkling performances of late, the Englishman could yet again be handed a start on the right flank, while Ryan Fraser would look to overload the left side with support from Targett.
Chris Wood’s wait to break his duck for Newcastle continues. But the striker is making a big impact in terms of holding the ball up, bringing other attackers into play, and starting Newcastle’s high press.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Wood, Fraser
Key Stats
- Southampton have lost just two of their 20 top-flight home games against Newcastle (W13 L5).
- The Saints are undefeated in their last 10 Premier League home matches (W5 D5).
- Newcastle have won five of their last six Premier League matches (D1).
- The Magpies have lost just one of their last nine league games against Southampton (W3 D5).
- Newcastle have not lost any of their three Premier League away games since the turn of the year (W2 D1).
Player to Watch
Fabian Schar
Schar is one of many Newcastle players who is enjoying a fresh lease of life under Eddie Howe and has been a crucial part of the Magpies’ upturn in form in recent weeks. The Swiss international has formed a formidable central defensive pairing alongside winter arrival Dan Burn that has kept two clean sheets in the last four while conceding just four goals in the process.
The 30-year-old ball-playing defender has not only kept things solid at the back but is also making major contributions at the other end of the pitch. He set up Joe Willock with a sensational run from the back in the Brentford victory before getting on the scoresheet himself against Brighton last time out. He will once again be looking to make vital interventions up here.
Prediction
Southampton 2-3 Newcastle United
Southampton have been superb at St. Mary’s this season, but the manner of their defeat at the weekend has certainly raised a few eyebrows while they face a stern test up against one of Premier League’s most in-form teams in Newcastle United.
A resurgent Newcastle side are a force to be reckoned with, especially when they are brimming with confidence and are on the cusp of Premier League safety. The Hard Tackle predicts a pulsating, end-to-end encounter with Newcastle edging their hosts narrowly to come away with all three points.
