Tottenham Hotspur vs. Southampton: Preview and predictions

This Boxing Day Southampton travel to Wembley Stadium to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side, in an early midday kick-off.

Spurs are the final side that the Saints are yet to face this season, having played their first reverse fixture just yesterday afternoon in a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.

Tottenham provide a entirely different challenge however, with Southampton fans knowing full well how Mauricio Pochettino likes to set up his side. The 46-year-old goes into the game with his side in fifth, just a single point off the Champions League places with fourth currently occupied by Liverpool.

Meanwhile the Saints currently sit in 13th – if results go against them then they could potentially slip right down to the relegation zone, or just above it.

Mauricio Pellegrino has struggled to find his feet in the Premier League since becoming manager over the summer, with just four wins to his name as Christmas passes. A loss on the 26th could lose the Argentine what little support he has left among the Southampton fanbase.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 23: Fraser Forster of Southampton gives his eam instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Huddersfield Town at St Mary’s Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /

Why Southampton will win

Despite re-finding their form recently, Tottenham went through a rough patch not too long ago when a lot of their weaknesses were exposed.

As previously seen against Arsenal and Manchester City, the Saints have been successful at boxing out the league’s big boys and will almost certainly try that again against Tottenham. Five defenders is seemingly a certainty whilst countering attacking with the pace of Shane Long and Nathan Redmond will be the Saints’ main way of attacking.

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Tottenham’s defence isn’t the quickest in the league and assuming the Saints play with pace on the counter attack, they could snatch something at Wembley.

Why Tottenham will win

Spurs will go into the game as firm favourites, having lost just once at home all season.

With Harry Kane upfront goals are to be expected, with the Englishman grabbing a hattrick against Burnley this weekend to take his tally to 15 goals for the season – making him joint-leading scorer alongside Mohamed Salah.

The Saints have become famously weak at defending physical strikers who can head a ball, and Kane is fond of a header or two. Fraser Forster will have a big job on his hands.

Predicted Line-ups

Southampton:

Goalkeeper: Fraser Forster

Defenders: Jeremy Pied, Jack Stephens, Maya Yoshida, Wesley Hoedt, Matt Targett

Midfielders: Mario Lemina, Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis

Strikers: Nathan Redmond, Shane Long

Tottenham:

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

Defenders: Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen

Midfielders: Keiran Trippier, Harry Winks, Dele Alli, Ben Davies

Forwards: Heung-Min Son, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane

Match prediction

I think Southampton will do their best to hold off Tottenham for the majority of the 90 but in the end the attacking prowess of the home side will prevail. The Saints are without Charlie Austin due to suspension and therefore I think they’ll struggle to get a goal.

Tottenham 1-0 Southampton

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