Tottenham Hotspur travel to Southampton this weekend for a Premier League clash between two struggling sides. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, winless in their last two league outings, will desperately need to find form against a Saints side firmly anchored at the bottom of the table.
With both teams out of form, this encounter at St Mary’s Stadium could prove crucial for their respective seasons.
Tottenham’s mixed fortunes under Ange Postecoglou
It has been a turbulent period for Tottenham, who have won just once in their last eight matches in all competitions. That win alone – a triumph over Manchester City – provided a glimpse of the attacking style Postecoglou sought to instill. However, back-to-back Premier League defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea saw Spurs slip to 11th in the table.
A 1-1 Europa League draw against Rangers on Thursday stopped the rot but left much to be desired in terms of consistency. Tottenham fans will be hoping this trip to face Southampton provides the platform to rebuild their momentum ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United.
Southampton’s Premier League struggles
For Southampton, life in the Premier League has been nothing short of exhausting. Russell Martin’s side are rock bottom, eight points from safety, with just one win in 15 matches since promotion. A 5-0 scoreline against Chelsea at St Mary’s earlier this month illustrates their defensive weaknesses, which have plagued them all season.
Despite their dismal run, the Saints showed resilience in their recent home clash against Liverpool, proving they can still be a threat. But without significant improvement at both ends of the pitch, Southampton’s hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship look bleak.
Team News: Injury concerns on both sides
Southampton could welcome back Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu, while Adam Lallana is also in contention for selection. However, key absences remain, with Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Will Smallbone and Juan Larios all sidelined. Jack Stephens will be absent as he is serving a suspension for his red card against Chelsea.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have their own injury problems. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies are unavailable, while Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur are suspended. Richarlison and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also remain out, leaving Postecoglou with limited options.
Prediction: Spurs are ready to bounce back
Despite their recent inconsistencies, this match presents a golden opportunity for Tottenham to get back to winning ways. Southampton’s defensive vulnerabilities leave them exposed to the attacking threat of Tottenham, although several key players are unavailable.
While the Saints could cause a brief scare, Spurs should dominate proceedings and claim a comprehensive victory.
Prediction: Tottenham 3-2 Southampton