When Southampton hosts Aston Villa at St. Mary’s on Saturday lunchtime, they will be looking to extend their winning streak in all tournaments to four matches.
In their most recent Premier League match, the Saints overcame a deficit to defeat Everton 2-1, while Unai Emery’s team defeated Leeds United by the same score.
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Last time out, Southampton defeated Everton, one of their basement rivals, with a stunning free kick from James Ward-Prowse. However, boos rang out throughout Goodison Park when the Toffees failed to build on Amadou Onana’s initial header.
After Ward-Prowse levelled the score in the second half with a cool finish into the bottom corner, Nathan Jones was awarded his long-awaited first victory as Saints manager in the Premier League and his third consecutive victory in all competitions 12 minutes before the final whistle.
Southampton’s victory over Everton did not alter their 20th-place standing at the bottom of the Premier League table. However, they are now level with Everton and West Ham United on 15 points and just one point away from safety. This victory builds on their FA Cup victory over Crystal Palace and their memorable EFL Cup victory over Manchester City.
Before beating Everton, Jones’s team had been on a miserable seven-game losing streak and a six-game losing streak in the top flight. Onana’s header extended the hosts’ eight-match losing streak in the top flight, which began with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth in October.
Jones and his leaky Saints team are now tasked with ending their six-match losing streak in the Premier League at St. Mary’s. They have scored a combined 16 goals at home this season and have not kept a clean sheet in front of their fans all season long, the last time they did so was against Arsenal in April 2022.
Unai Emery got what he wanted from Aston Villa during the visit of Leeds to the West Midlands on Friday, when the Lions came back with a narrow victory. The visit came after his team became the latest FA Cup giant-killing victims at the hands of Stevenage.
Before Emiliano Buendia’s tying goal, Villa’s Leon Bailey scored after just three minutes. Emery’s team held on for a few more minutes despite losing their clean sheet to Patrick Bamford seven minutes later.
Aston Villa’s improved exploits under Emery have enabled the Lions to rise to 11th in the table, just three points adrift of underperforming powerhouses Liverpool and Chelsea. The Lions are still unbeaten in the Premier League since the turn of the year, claiming seven points from nine available in the top flight.
Since Emery took over, only Liverpool has defeated Aston Villa in the Premier League. Villa has scored and conceded goals in five of Emery’s six top-flight games. Emery may become the first Lions coach since John Gregory in 1998 to win all three of his first three away games.
Earlier this season, Villa defeated Southampton 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jacob Ramsey. This was Villa’s third win in a row over the Saints in their last four games, but the hosts won the same amount at St. Mary’s in 2021-2022.
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Following their victory over Everton, Southampton have no new injuries or suspensions to report. Jones may even be able to welcome back Theo Walcott, Alex McCarthy, and Armel Bella-Kotchap for Saturday, but none of them are likely to start.
Juan Larios and Valentino Livramento are still out of the running for the hosts, who gave Carlos Alcaraz his debut off the bench at Goodison Park after he arrived from Racing Club. However, Jones may not immediately consider the 20-year-old for a starting position.
Although Sam Edozie had less of an impact in Merseyside and could find himself under threat from Adam Armstrong or Sekou Mara, the hosts could very well select the same starting XI.
Regarding Villa, Danny Ings, a former Saints striker, took Ollie Watkins’ place in the first half of Friday’s victory over Leeds due to an ankle injury, but he has since joined West Ham United.
However, scans have shown that Watkins’ ankle has not sustained any significant damage, and he may be fit to start after returning to training this week. This relieves the pressure on Villa management to complete the signing of Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire before the weekend.
After Lucas Digne left the game last time out with a shoulder injury after just 10 minutes, Alex Moreno, along with Diego Carlos, John McGinn, and Jed Steer, should be in line to make his full Premier League debut.
However, while Leander Dendoncker is back from suspension and Matty Cash and Ludwig Augustinsson are fit again, Jan Bednarek cannot play against his parent club.
The possible starting lineup for Southampton:
Bazunu; Salisu, Lyanco, and Caleta-Car; Elyounoussi, Diallo, Walker-Peters; Ward-Prowse; Edozie, Adams
Aston Villa might start:
Martinez; Mings, Young, Konsa, and Moreno; J. Ramsey, Luiz, and Kamara; Buendia, Watkins, and Bailey
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM PREVIEW
Armel Bella-Kotchap will be out on Saturday for Southampton. The international player from Germany recently suffered a knock and will be out for at least a few weeks. Che Adams is still the only forward striker because Stuart Armstrong is still recovering from a groin injury that will keep him out until at least mid-February. Due to his calf issues, which have been recurring for quite some time, Theo Walcott is still unlikely to be selected for the first team and may make an appearance on the bench.
People to watch: Romeo Lavia (1.7 interceptions per 90 minutes), Che Adams (20 chances created this season), and James Ward-Prowse (5 goals and 2 assists)
ASTON VILLA TEAM REVIEW
Villa has lost two key players due to injuries just in the last game week. Against Leeds United, striker Ollie Watkins and left back Lucas Digne were substituted in the first half. Watkins has been hurt in the ankle, and Digne has a shoulder injury that will keep him out of the next few games. By mid-February, both players are expected to be back, keeping them out of this Saturday’s game. After recovering from a recent injury, Matty Cash may return to the team, but only from the bench in the second half.
People to watch: Prediction for Southampton vs. Aston Villa: Danny Ings (6 goals), Douglas Luiz (20 opportunities created this season), and Tyrone Mings (1.6 interceptions per 90 minutes) Aston Villa have improved under Unai Emery and have a point to prove in the coming weeks. In this matchup, players like Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey, who can be deadly on their day, will need to perform at their best.
Despite their struggles this season, Southampton has shown signs of potential in recent weeks. However, Aston Villa should be able to win this game because they appear to be the superior team.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton.
