Will the Hammers manage a turnaround?
For a long time, it looked like West Ham United could make it to the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. However, after a strong run of four consecutive wins between October and November, only one of the last six league games was won (two draws, three defeats). The Hammers thus slipped to fifth place.
Now, however, a rebuilding opponent of sorts is visiting the London Stadium. No other team in the Premier League have the Hammers won more often (19) and celebrated more home victories (14) than the Saints. Accordingly, in the run-up to the match between West Ham and Southampton, the odds are swinging in the direction of the Irons.
In addition, Southampton are by no means in good form. The Saints, who are visiting a London side for the eleventh time on Boxing Day and have therefore visited the capital more often than they have played home games on this particular matchday, have been without another treble for six league games (three draws, three defeats).
Accordingly, we see a lot of value in West Ham vs Southampton in tip 1. In view of the fact that none of the Hammers’ last 18 home games against the Saints ended in a draw, hedging via “Draw No Bet” would make little sense. However, the risk could also be reduced somewhat with a free bet.
West Ham – Statistics & current form
The Londoners have been on the rise since David Moyes took over as West Ham United coach almost exactly two years ago. Last season, the Hammers qualified for the Europa League for the first time, finishing sixth in the final table and winning their group.
As a team seeded for the round of 16, the Irons thus also play a key role in the Europa League Winners 2022 prediction and thus have two possible paths to reaching the Champions League.
Only five points from a possible 18 from their last six league games
In league play, however, a recent period of weakness that has seen them pick up just five points from a possible 18 in their last six games has left them four points off fourth place with one game less to play.
A turnaround on Boxing Day would be correspondingly important when the Saints visit the London Stadium, the team against which the Irons have picked up their most home victories in the Premier League to date. The Londoners have won 14 of their last 18 home games against the Saints (four defeats).
Two league games in a row without scoring a goal of their own
For West Ham vs Southampton tip 1 to work out another time, however, the Hammers’ attack will have to overcome its recent scoring drought. The attack around Michail Antonio has faltered recently.
The Irons failed to score twice in a row in the Premier League – as many times as in the 18 league games before. Including the final Europa League game, which they lost 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb, and Wednesday night’s 2-1 EFL Cup exit to Tottenham, the Irons have also gone four consecutive games without a win.
Predicted West Ham line-up:
Fabianski – Massuaku – Diop – Dawson – Johnson – Rice – Soucek – Lanzini – Fornals – Bowen – Antonio
Last matches played by West Ham:
Carabao Cup
12/22 2021 – Tottenham 2 – 1 West Ham
Premier League
12/15 2021 – Arsenal London 2 – 0 West Ham
12/12 2021 – Burnley 0 – 0 West Ham
Europa League Grp. H
12/09 2021 – West Ham 0 – 1 Dinamo Zagreb
Premier League
12/04 2021 – West Ham 3 – 2 Chelsea London
Southampton – Statistics & current form
Southampton Football Club have been part of the Premier League continuously since the summer of 2012. However, since a period of strength between 2014 and 2017, when four consecutive seasons have always finished in the top eight, relegation has once again prevailed in the port city on England’s south coast.
Apart from an 11th-place finish in their second year under Ralph Hasenhüttl, the Saints have finished three of the last four seasons in the bottom third of the table and remained just above the line this summer in 15th place with 43 points.
Won only three of their 17 league games so far
Things are also far from going smoothly for the southerners at the moment. The Saints have only won three of their 17 league games and are only above the line because eight of the other 14 games still ended in draws (six defeats).
With 17 points, however, the lead over the first relegation place is only six points in the still distorted table, which is characterised by match postponements. It would be correspondingly important for Hasenhüttl’s team to turn the tide at one of their most fearful opponents.
First 16 goals from 17 league games
Looking at the fact that 14 of their last 18 away games at the Hammers have been lost, however, the southerners travel to the capital as underdogs.
Finally, the current form of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team is anything but good. Currently, the Saints are waiting for six league games in a row for another three-pointer (three draws, three defeats), which is also due to the offensive charge inhibition. Southampton have scored only 16 goals in their 17 league games so far.
Predicted line-up of Southampton:
Caballero – Walker-Peters – Salisu – Lyanco – Livramento – Redmond – Romeu – Ward-Prowse – Smallbone – Broja – Tella
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
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
11/27 2021 – Liverpool FC 4 – 0 Southampton
West Ham – Southampton Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 80 – 48 – 50
There have been a total of 178 meetings between the two teams and the Hammers clearly lead the direct comparison. Most recently, West Ham have won 14 of their last 18 home games in London against the Saints (four defeats)
West Ham – Southampton Tip
West Ham vs Southampton prediction goes clearly to the Hammers also because of the clear “head to head” comparison. However, the Moyes eleven is quite a bit ticked off after winning only one of the last six league games and not scoring a goal twice in a row recently.
Nevertheless, with favourite opponents Southampton, a grateful rebuilding opponent comes to the London Stadium. The Saints have only won three league games and have scored less than one goal per game on average. Accordingly, the bet on the Hammers’ home win is playable.
