Will the Saints continue their upward trend at the bottom of the table?
Meanwhile, it is becoming more and more common to see a matchday in the English Premier League cut into many pieces according to the “salami principle”. This is not the case this weekend and at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, six games will kick off at the same time. Among other things, there will be a coaching debut to marvel at in the clash between Norwich and Southampton.
The timing of the sacking came as quite a surprise for the promoted side, as two-time promotion coach Daniel Farke was relieved of his duties just after the first win of the season. Now ex-Villa coach Dean Smith is expected to lead the Canaries to a relegation place. The Saints, however, are a team that has shown a strong upward trend in form recently.
The form advantages are clearly with the guests and also more individual quality is to be found with the Hasenhüttl eleven. Accordingly, it is not at all surprising that betting odds of just over 2.00 are offered between Norwich and Southampton.
Norwich – Statistics & current form
2019/20 Norwich officials were aware that staying in the league was a mission impossible. Head coach Daniel Farke was therefore given the confidence to continue. However, after the team’s successful return to the top flight, a lot of money was invested in the squad this summer in order to make the team more competitive.
After 21 PL games they managed to win again
At the start of the season, the promoted team had to play a monster programme (Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester, Arsenal) and thus quickly squandered any promotion euphoria. The turnaround was not successful and Daniel Farke came under increasing criticism. Although the last game against fellow promoted Brentford finally brought a win (the first in 21 Premier League games), the club management did not believe that Daniel Farke would be able to stay in the league.
Eight days after Dean Smith was relieved of his duties at Aston Villa, he was introduced as the new head coach at the bottom club. Smith has an advantage in match preparation against the Saints, as he already played his last game against Southampton. This makes him the first PL manager in history to play the same club twice in a row.
Toothless Offense
Two years ago, ex-Schalker Teemu Pukki was a glimmer of hope with his goals (Pukki has scored 35 per cent of all goals for Norwich since the start of the 2018/19 season). This season, the entire Norwich offensive presents itself like a lukewarm breeze.
In eleven league games, just five meagre goals have been scored so far. However, due to the weak defence (26 goals conceded), an over 2.5 is still likely (seven out of eleven this season). An interesting option for the Norwich vs. Southampton match is also the prediction of “more goals in the second half”. The Canaries have conceded 17 goals in the second half, while Southampton have swallowed ten of the twelve goals conceded in the second period.
Predicted Norwich line-up:
Krul – Williams, Gibson, Omobamidele, Aarons – Normann, McLean – Rashica, Lees-Melou, Dowell – Pukki
Last matches played by Norwich:
Premier League
11/06 2021 – Brentford 1 – 2 Norwich
10/31 2021 – Norwich 1 – 2 Leeds
10/23 2021 – Chelsea London 7 – 0 Norwich
10/16 2021 – Norwich 0 – 0 Brighton
10/02 2021 – Burnley 0 – 0 Norwich
Southampton – Statistics & current form
Confidence in not losing even in times of failure is a hallmark of Southampton Football Club. And once again, that faith in Austrian head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl seems to be paying off. After a completely disappointing start to the season (winless after seven games), the Saints achieved the longed-for turnaround after the October international break.
Ten points from four games
In the four games between the October and November international break, Hasenhüttl almost managed to get the maximum. Thanks to three 1-0 victories and a 2-2 draw (against Burnley), Southampton were not only able to forget their poor start to the season, but also gradually reorient themselves towards mid-table.
Before this phase, Southampton needed 18 Premier League games to celebrate three victories. Now they have achieved this feat in just four games. A third successive win at the bottom of the table would be the first since November 2020. Back then, the Saints even briefly climbed to the top of the Premier League table.
Only two goals per game
A strength of Hasenhüttl’s eleven has already been touched on above. Three 1-0 victories also mean three games in which goalkeeper Alex McCarthy kept his box clean. In total, Southampton have already scored five times this season.
With a goal ratio of 10:12, Southampton generally present themselves as minimalists. 2.00 goals per league match involving the Saints is the lowest figure this season. Despite being the favourites at Carrow Road, Ralph Hasenhüttl will not change his approach and therefore a bet of under 2.5 is recommended for Norwich against Southampton.
Predicted line-up of Southampton:
McCarthy – Walker-Peters, Salisu, Bednarek, Livramento – Elyounoussi, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong – Adam Armstrong, Adams
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
11/05 2021 – Southampton 1 – 0 Aston Villa
10/30 2021 – Watford 0 – 1 Southampton
Carabao Cup
10/26 2021 – Chelsea London (4)1 – 1(3) Southampton
Premier League
10/23 2021 – Southampton 2 – 2 Burnley
10/16 2021 – Southampton 1 – 0 Leeds
Norwich – Southampton Direct comparison / H2H record
Between 1956 and 1958, Southampton won four games in a row against the Canaries from Norwich. That record could be set by Hasenhüttl’s eleven on Saturday, with each of the last three games ending in victory for the Saints. Overall, Southampton have lost only two of their last 15 encounters in the competition. In the Premier League, the statistics read even better with four wins in the last five games.
Norwich – Southampton Tip
Dean Smith is experiencing deja vu on Saturday afternoon, after all he is playing Southampton for the second successive season in the Premier League. Now, however, with a new team. And the task at the Canaries could hardly be more difficult. Hasenhüttl’s eleven has been in very strong form in recent weeks and is brimming with confidence. The favourite role in Norwich vs. Southampton according to current odds in favour of the Saints is absolutely comprehensible.
Besides the lucrative betting odds of over 2.00 for the away win, however, another bet stands out. Very big value is given between Norwich and Southampton in predicting that more goals will be scored in the second half.
The statistics of both teams clearly suggest this bet. Norwich have conceded no less than 17 goals in the second half, while Southampton have conceded ten of their twelve goals in the second half.
