da bwin： With both clubs losing in the mid-week Premier League action, Sunday’s match at St. Mary’s is a key fixture for Southampton and West Ham United.
da aposte e ganhe： In September, Claude Puel’s side travelled to the London Stadium and humiliated the Irons, thumping them 3-0 thanks to goals from Charlie Austin, Dusan Tadic and Virgil van Dijk.
Over the last six matches, however, their head-to-head is fairly equal with Saints winning three, West Ham winning two and the other game ending in a 0-0 draw at St. Mary’s.
Saturday’s match-up is likely to be keenly contested with the two squads similar in ability on paper and both clubs having indifferent seasons.
Bilic’s side are in better form having won three of their last six Premier League fixtures, with Southampton only picking up one in the same time frame. Just one point separates the teams in the table, however, so a lot is at stake.
These are the THREE key battles that will decide the outcome of Saturday’s 3pm kickoff…
Jack Stephens vs. Andy Carroll
With Virgil van Dijk ruled out for up to two months due to an ankle injury sustained at home to Leicester, it has fallen on 23-year-old Jack Stephens to step up to the plate. That’s been easier said than done for the inexperienced centre-back.
Saints have conceded seven goals in their last two games with him at the back but after failing to add any defenders to his squad in the January transfer window, Claude Puel doesn’t have a multitude of options to replace him with.
That sets the stage for Andy Carroll to continue his recent goal splurge upon his trip to St. Mary’s. The big striker has scored three in his last three matches and looked at his very best in the Irons’ recent trip to Middlesbrough.
He’ll fancy going up against Stephens and the Saints defender must raise his game if they’re going to have any chance of a victory.
Shane Long vs. Jose Fonte
Saturday will be a strange occasion for Jose Fonte. He became something of a legend at St. Mary’s and his move to West Ham in January was likely an emotional one for him. He spent seven-and-a-half seasons on the south coast, guiding the club from League One to the Premier League.
The Portuguese defender struggled on his debut against Manchester City but has the opportunity to prove he still has the ability required to play at top level when he visits his old club.
In a positive for the Hammers, he’ll have the inside scoop on the striker he’s likely to face; Shane Long.
Claude Puel signed Serie A striker Manolo Gabbiadini on Deadline Day but it’s unclear whether he’s ready to feature from the start, so Long is the man we’re expecting to lead the line.
Long had a frustrating start to the season, rarely featuring for Puel, but he’s seen a recent uptick in form and has scored three of his four goals this season in his last five appearances.
That makes Saturday’s battle between the striker and his former teammate a very intriguing one. If Fonte can keep the Irishman quiet, then Southampton have little goal threat elsewhere in the team.
Ryan Bertrand vs. Michail Antonio
Versatile Michail Antonio has played an extraordinary number of roles for the Hammers this season. Depending on how Bilic lines up his side, the red hot Englishman could be deployed on the right wing, at right back, on the left or even through the middle as a striker.
He’s been most effective for the Irons on the right hand side so it’s Ryan Bertrand who’ll likely have the biggest headache in the Southampton side on Saturday.
Antonio has scored eight and assisted three in the Premier League this season, a key attacking threat that has at times won points single-handed.
Bertrand isn’t having quite as good a season and needs to raise his performance levels or will risk being overrun by West Ham’s star man.
If Antonio can get in behind the Southampton defence, then it could be a long afternoon for the home supporters.