Sheffield United vs Southampton: Where the game will be won and lost

Possession Battle

Despite the mentioned instructions of going toe-to-toe with Sheffield United and being direct with the ball in possession of it, the battle for possession will be an interesting one that could sway the game.

This fixture entails either one of two scenarios, a 1-0 victory to either side of a compete goal-fest; and with the first being the more likely option, this is where keeping possession of the ball could become vital in said game. If Southampton were to go ahead in the game, then trying to keep Sheffield at an arms length by implementing good ball retention would be viable option.

Granted, both sides are not very effective at it and with Sheffield’s high intensity style of play; it’ll be difficult to implement, especially if Ward-Prowse were to be moved into a three-man midfield or Stuart Armstrong was introduced in the latter stages of this weekend’s fixture.

However the form of Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg have been nothing short of exceptional so far; and given the level that both operate at, Southampton should be touted to give Sheffield’s midfield a ‘run for its money’.