Do Spurs remain the Saints’ fearsome opponents?
Southampton have lost 14 of their last 20 meetings with Tottenham Hotspur (three wins, three draws). Most recently, the Saints conceded three defeats in a row against Spurs with a total of 5:10 goals. Now it could be another defeat for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team, who have not won their last competitive match of a calendar year in the last ten years.
Moreover, Spurs are a team in good form at St Mary’s Stadium. Under Antonio Conte, the Londoners remained unbeaten in the Premier League, taking 14 points from a possible 18. In the run-up to the match between Southampton and Tottenham, the odds are clearly in favour of the visitors.
There are certainly goals to be expected, especially as there have always been goals on both sides in twelve of the last 13 competitive matches between the two clubs. The bottom line, however, is that Spurs’ form clearly outweighs their opponents’, who have got back on track under their new coach.
Accordingly, Southampton vs Tottenham is a good bet for an away win for the Londoners, especially as Conte’s side also recorded a commanding 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the London derby on Boxing Day.
Southampton – Statistics & current form
Southampton Football Club have been threatened with relegation on and off during their last decade of uninterrupted Premier League affiliation. In the end, however, the Saints, who once won the FA Cup in 1976, were always able to stay in the league.
The club from the port city on England’s south coast is also currently facing the prospect of relegation, but after an important 3-2 away win at West Ham United on Boxing Day, they are now nine points above the bottom of the table again.
The current look at the table is deceptive
However, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s squad must not rest on their laurels and their supposedly comfortable lead. After all, the Premier League table is still distorted by numerous postponements, which means that Burnley, who are in the first relegation place, have three games less than the Saints.
It would be all the more important for the southerners to score again at home against Spurs. Prior to their unexpected success at West Ham, Southampton had gone winless in six consecutive league games, picking up just three points from a possible 18.
First four wins in 18 league games
Only four wins in the 18 league games played are on record, which means that Hasenhüttl’s team is far from out of the woods and has plenty of potential for improvement going into the final competitive game of the 2021 calendar year. In addition to the defence, which has not scored a single goal in the last seven league games, the offence is also a problem.
With only 19 goals, the Saints have the seventh weakest attack in the Premier League. Thus, the southerners go into the home game against Spurs as underdogs.
Predicted Southampton line-up:
Forster – Walker-Peters – Salisu – Bednarek – Livramento – Romeu – Walcott – Elyounoussi – Ward-Prowse – Redmond – Broja
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
12/26 2021 – West Ham 2 – 3 Southampton
12/15 2021 – Crystal Palace 2 – 2 Southampton
12/11 2021 – Arsenal London 3 – 0 Southampton
12/04 2021 – Southampton 1 – 1 Brighton
12/01 2021 – Southampton 2 – 2 Leicester
Tottenham – Statistics & current form
Tottenham Hotspur did manage to impressively establish themselves at the top of the Premier League over the last decade, competing for the championship every now and then and even reaching the Champions League final in 2019. But the bottom line is that further titles have always eluded them.
The Lilywhites last won the FA Cup in 1991, while their last English championship was in 1961, another 30 years in the past. The longing among the Spurs fans to finally win something again is correspondingly high.
Unbeaten in league play under Conte
With this in mind, those responsible now reached deep into their pockets to get a coach in Antonio Conte, who achieved great things in practically all of his previous stations and most recently led Inter Milan to the Scudetto, after Nuno Espírito Santo’s engagement ended prematurely.
So far, the Italian also seems to be pushing the right buttons at the Londoners, because with 14 out of 18 possible points in league play, things are clearly looking up again. The club, which had previously slumped into mid-table, is back in fifth place and, with three games less than city rivals Arsenal, can storm into the top four on their own merits.
Won 14 of last 20 duels with Southampton
There is a lot to be said for Southampton against Tottenham, as the Lilywhites will be looking for their next win. After all, the Londoners also picked up a completely convincing 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and now host an opponent who has always done well.
Spurs have won 14 of their last 20 competitive matches against the Saints, who also recorded an emphatic 5-2 away victory in their last visit to St Mary’s Stadium on 20 September 2020.
Predicted Tottenham line-up:
Lloris – Reguilón – Tanganga – Dier – Sánchez – Royal – Höjbjerg – Skipp – Son – Moura – Kane
Last matches played by Tottenham:
Premier League
12/26 2021 – Tottenham 3 – 0 Crystal Palace
Carabao Cup
12/22 2021 – Tottenham 2 – 1 West Ham
Premier League
12/19 2021 – Tottenham 2 – 2 Liverpool FC
European Conference League Grp. G
12/09 2021 – Tottenham 0 – 3 Rennes
Premier League
12/05 2021 – Tottenham 3 – 0 Norwich
Southampton – Tottenham Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 64 – 50 – 85
There have been a total of 199 meetings between the two teams so far and with 85 victories, the Spurs lead the direct comparison very clearly. Most recently, the Londoners have won the last three meetings in a row on 10:5 goals.
Southampton – Tottenham Tip
When it comes to Southampton against Tottenham, the prediction must not only take into account the current form, which clearly favours the Londoners. The fact that the Saints have not lost to any other team in the top English division as often as they have against Spurs since their return to the Premier League in the summer of 2012 also plays a role here.
Accordingly, it’s a good bet that the Londoners will remain unbeaten in their seventh league game under Antonio Conte and stay on course for the Champions League with a treble on England’s south coast.
