Premier League | Gameweek 16

Dec 15, 2024 at 7pm UK

St. Mary's Stadium

Southamptonvs.Spurs

Match preview

Festive cheer is in short supply at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the moment, with Ange Postecoglou's job security being called into question as Spurs go on a disheartening winless streak since their stunning demolition of Manchester City.

Since their embarrassment at the Etihad, Spurs have taken just three points from their last 15 games in the Premier League and Europa League combined, most recently snatching a late point against Rangers through super sub Dejan Kulusevski.

The stalemate with Philippe Clement's men came after Tottenham had capitulated against a team in a similar shade of blue, scoring two early goals against Chelsea before conceding a chastening 4-3 defeat, their second successive top-flight loss following the defeat at Bournemouth.

With just one win in their last five Premier League games, the Lilywhites have slipped into the bottom half of the table and are just one defeat away from a second successive 15th league defeat, something they have not done since 2004.

Lacking inspiration away from their north London base throughout the year, Spurs head south having won just 25% of their 2024-25 Premier League games away from home - picking up four wins from a possible 16 - although they are unbeaten in their last 13 top-flight matches and start the weekend in 20th place.

Southampton will begin and end the weekend at the foot of the Premier League table after suffering their 12th defeat in 15 top-flight games in 2024-25, losing 1-0 to a rejuvenated Aston Villa side in the West Midlands last weekend.

A first-half strike from the clinical Colombian Jhon Duran was enough to send the Saints back to St Mary's empty-handed and drive another nail into Russell Martin's coffin, but the Southampton boss - who recently described his side's five-point haul as "embarrassing" - is still enjoying a reprieve from the powers that be.

How much longer the hierarchy are prepared to hold out is anyone's guess, however, with the Saints eight points adrift of safety after 15 games, the worst attacking record in the top flight (11 goals) and having conceded fewer goals than Wolverhampton Wanderers in 19th.

Sunday's hosts have taken just one point from their last five Premier League outings, although four of their five points in 2024-25 have come at St Mary's, and their head-to-head record against Spurs also makes for relatively comfortable reading.

Indeed, Southampton have only been beaten in one of their last six Premier League home matches against Tottenham and have scored in each of their last 15 top-flight games against Spurs, the longest such run in Premier League history.

Recent Performance

Southampton Premier League form:WLLDLL

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:WLWDLL

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):WDDLLD

Team News

As well as Rodrigo Bentancur serving the fifth of his five-match domestic ban at St Mary's, Spurs have also lost Yves Bissouma to a yellow card accumulation following his inexcusable tackle on Moises Caicedo in the box last weekend.

Bissouma and Bentancur are likely to be two of nine Spurs players to miss Sunday's clash, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven out with thigh injuries picked up in the Chelsea defeat, while Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Mikey Moore (illness), Richarlison (hamstring), Ben Davies (hamstring) and Guglielmo Vicario (ankle) are also sidelined.

Rather than stick with James Maddison, Postecoglou should consider promoting Lucas Bergvall to the first XI ahead of the underperforming Englishman, while Timo Werner will undoubtedly be dropped in favour of Dominic Solanke after the manager's criticism of his performance against Rangers.

Southampton are not so fortunate on the injury front either, with Jack Stephens (suspended), Aaron Ramsdale (finger), Will Smallbone (thigh), Juan Larios (undisclosed), Ross Stewart (calf) and Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) all sidelined.

However, Martin has revealed that Adam Lallana, Paul Onuachu and Jan Bednarek are all back in contention for a place in the squad, with the latter duo likely to be promoted straight into the first XI, with Onuachu taking Cameron Archer's place up top.

Nathan Wood made a strong impression in Bednarek's place against Villa, though, so James Bree could make way for the Pole as Martin tinkers with his rearguard.

Possible starting lineup

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Lumley; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Fernandes; Dibling; Armstrong, Onuachu

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Forster; Spence, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Kulusevski, Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Son