Preview: Southampton vs. Aston Villa – prediction, team news, lineups

Southampton and Aston Villa will each be looking to bounce back from midweek Premier League defeats when they face off at St Mary’s on Saturday evening.

The sides are locked on the same number of points heading into this weekend’s clash, though Villa have played a game fewer than Southampton.

Match preview

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It is now back-to-back losses in the league for Southampton following Tuesday’s 3-1 reverse at the hands of Arsenal, three days on from beating the same side in the FA Cup.

The Saints took the lead via an early Stuart Armstrong goal, but Arsenal hit back through goals from Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette.

Indeed, since Ralph Hasenhuttl‘s first game in charge of Southampton in December 2018, no other team has dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League (47).

That is something Hasenhuttl will be keen to get to the bottom of, but he will be pleased with his side’s campaign as a whole, sitting as they do just six points off the top four.

Southampton led the way at the top of the table at one point – one of nine sides to have done so – while opponents Villa were also in the higher echelons not so long ago.

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The Villans have won just one of their last four league games, though, most recently going down 3-2 to Burnley on Wednesday evening.

Dean Smith‘s side twice took the lead at Turf Moor, but they could not hold on and Chris Wood scored what proved to be the winner 11 minutes from time.

After winning five of their first seven away league games this term, keeping five clean sheets, Villa have since lost three in a row and conceded at least twice in each.

The west Midlands outfit could do with getting their campaign back on course this weekend, then, but this is a fixture that they have a poor record in.

They are winless in their last eight Premier League matches against Southampton, losing each of the last four, including a 4-3 defeat at Villa Park in the reverse fixture.

Southampton Premier League form: LDDWLL
Southampton form (all competitions): DWLWWL

Aston Villa Premier League form: WDLLWL
Aston Villa form (all competitions): DLLLWL

Team News

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Southampton remain without a number of first-team players through injury, but Kyle Walker-Peters may be available and Ryan Bertrand is back from suspension.

Nathan Redmond was a second-half substitute against Arsenal and is in contention to make his first start since October.

James Ward-Prowse claimed another assist last time out to take the midfielder to nine goal involvements this term, making this his most productive Premier League campaign.

Villa brought in Morgan Sanson from Marseille for £16m this week and he is line to make his debut at St Mary’s, though that will likely be from the bench.

Rotation is possible in attack should Smith wish to freshen things up, with Bertrand Traore, Anwar El-Ghazi and Trezeguet battling for a starting spot.

Ollie Watkins will surely lead the line as he looks to score in a third successive Premier League game for the first time.

Southampton possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Walcott; Adams, Ings

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Trezeguet, Barkley, Grealish; Watkins

We say: Southampton 1-0 Aston Villa

Southampton’s defeat to Arsenal ended a three-match winning streak on home soil in all competitions. Villa, meanwhile, have lost three in a row on their travels, each in the league.

That, combined with the Villans’ poor record in this fixture, suggests that the Saints should get their campaign back on track this weekend with three points.

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