Premier League | Gameweek 31

Apr 6, 2025 at 2pm UK

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs vs Southampton

Match preview

Unless Tottenham unexpectedly go all the way in this season's Europa League, the only 'cups' the Spurs faithful will receive will be Ange Postecoglou's ears in Thursday's clash with Chelsea, a game that the Tottenham boss found infuriating from start to finish.

Enzo Fernandez's strike decided the derby in the Blues' favour, and Spurs' one moment of joy was quickly snatched away when Pape Sarr's equaliser was disallowed following a VAR review, prompting another of Postecoglou's customary post-match rants about technology.

The former Celtic boss was also forced to deny that his ear-cupping of the away end was a hostile gesture - his decision to take off Lucas Bergvall for Sarr was met with a very negative reaction - but regardless, the gesture was highly ill-advised after Sarr's goal had been waved off.

With just one point from their last four games in England's top flight, Tottenham's 14th-placed finish in the Premier League makes for increasingly grim reading, as does their appalling record of just one win in their last 10 home Premier League games.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou's sophomore trophy prophecy could yet come true as the Lilywhites prepare to take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and Spurs could hardly have asked for a friendlier fixture to regain some much-needed momentum ahead of Thursday's first leg.

As has been the story of the Saints' season, even ending a six-game losing streak at home to Crystal Palace left an incredibly bitter taste in the mouth, as Ivan Juric's men came so close to recording a third Premier League win of the campaign thanks to Paul Onuachu's opener.

It was a tale of two headers, however, as Matheus Franca broke Southampton's hearts in the second minute of stoppage time to send the Premier League's whipping boys to their doom at Tottenham Hotspur in record time.

The formula is simple: if Southampton lose at Tottenham and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Ipswich Town on Saturday, Juric's men will be relegated with seven games to play, writing another chapter in the Premier League's unwanted history.

No team has ever been relegated as early as Gameweek 31 - the current 'record' is held by 2007-08 Derby County and 2018-19 Huddersfield Town, who were relegated in Gameweek 32 - and Saints' measly 10-point haul still puts them on course for the worst season in Premier League history.

To add insult to injury, Southampton were thrashed 5-0 at home by Spurs in December and have conceded in each of their last 15 Premier League away games against Tottenham, who even in their current form will be tipped to put the final nail in the visitors' relegation coffin.

Recent Performance

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:WWLDLL

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):LLDWLL

Southampton Premier League form:LLLLLD

Team News

The only positive to come out of Thursday night's defeat for Spurs was Postecoglou's confirmation in his pre-match press conference that no new players had picked up injuries, with Micky van de Ven only suffering cramps towards the end of the game and expected to be fit for Sunday's clash.

Unlucky striker Richarlison could also return to action after returning to training last week with a calf problem, while Radu Dragusin (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (foot) and Kevin Danso (hamstring) remain on the treatment table.

Postecoglou has confirmed that he will be reshuffling his squad for this weekend's trip to Frankfurt, which is good news for the likes of Sarr, Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel; it would not be a huge surprise to see Son Heung-min rested for the game.

As for doomed Southampton, Flynn Downes' 10th yellow card of the season in the draw with Crystal Palace means he will be suspended for Sunday's game, while Juan Larios (fitness), Ross Stewart (fitness) and Will Smallbone (groin) will also miss out, although the latter is due to return to training this weekend.

In keeping with the theme of their disastrous season, Juric was also forced to rest Lesley Ugochukwu (unspecified), Onuachu (ankle) and Ryan Manning (hand) against Palace, although the former and latter are fine, while Onuachu is a serious doubt.

Cameron Archer should therefore lead the Saints line in north London, where Joe Aribo and Yukinari Sugawara will also be looking to break into the first XI.

Possible starting lineup

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Gray, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Tel

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap; Sugawara, Aribo, Ugochukwu, Walker-Peters; Fernandes; Archer, Dibling