Southampton vs Aston Villa: Predicted team line-ups for both sides

Southampton host Aston Villa this Saturday in a match that will surely have real implications at both ends of the table.

Saints are seven points away from the relegation zone currently and are still only five points off of the top eight, where European qualification potentially awaits after Manchester City’s Champions League ban.

A win for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side could therefore take them further away from trouble and closer to achieving something big this season.

Dean Smith’s Aston Villa on the other hand are solely concerned with pulling away from the bottom of the league.

They sit one point outside the drop zone, meaning a win could provide a real boost in momentum and even make Saints in 12th sweat a little bit more.

The match-up between the two sides could prove to be an intriguing one in a tactical sense.

Saints claimed a comfortable 3-1 victory over Villa back in December and were playing in the same system that they continue to use now.

Villa have changed their shape though and have attempted to solidify things to secure some much-needed points for survival in the Premier League.

More from Saints Marching

• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

Against Saints last time out, they used a 4-3-3 and were badly exposed by the endless pressing from the visitors to Villa Park. Now though, they have switched to a 3-4-3.

Welcome news came ahead of their meeting with Saints this time around with the return of Tyrone Mings from a bout of Tonsillitis, meaning the England international should come straight back into the centre of their defence.

Saints will be without, Kyle Walker-Peters, Sofiane Boufal and Nathan Redmond so will most likely be relying on Moussa Djenepo and Yan Valery coming in and making an impact.

Important battles throughout the afternoon will see two vs two in central-midfield and control of the game for whichever pair comes out on top, whilst Saints will be wanting to get their front four attackers exposing Villa’s three centre-backs as much as possible.

A fast and consistent start will be vital for Saints if they are to avoid getting into a cagey contest that might favour Villa’s more defensive approach.

Below are how I predict both sides to line-up at St Mary’s tomorrow.

Predicted Saints line-up

Alex McCarthy, Yan Valery, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Ryan Bertrand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse, Moussa Djenepo, Stuart Armstrong, Shane Long, Danny Ings

Predicted Villa line-up

Pepe Reina, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause, Frederic Guilbert, Matt Targett, Danny Drinkwater, Douglas Luiz, Anwar El Ghazi, Jack Grealish, Mbwana Samatta