Southampton vs Sheffield United Preview: Can Saints end on a high?

Southampton host Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon and will be looking to end their 2019/20 season on a high.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have hit some strong form since the Premier League’s restart and claimed another win last weekend against Bournemouth to move onto 49 points for the campaign.

A win or draw could potentially lift Saints up to 11th which would be seen as a very decent result after what they have fought through this year.

Sheffield United have enjoyed a superb season on their return to the top-flight and will be looking to secure their eighth place by the final kick of the game on Sunday.

A big part of their success has been manager Chris Wilder trusting in the ways his team played in the Championship and transferring that to the highest level. This means they will certainly be a tough test for Saints.

Match guide

Form guide

Saints: WDDDW

Sheffield United: DWWLL

PL season stats

Saints: 49 pts, 14 wins, 7 draws, 16 losses, 48 goals scored, 59 goals conceded

Sheffield United: 54 pts, 14 wins, 12 draws, 11 losses, 38 goals scorer, 36 goals conceded

Top scorer

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

Saints: Danny Ings, 24 goals in all competitions

Sheffield United: Oli McBurnie and Lys Mousset, 6 goals in all competitions

Last fixture

Saints: 2-0 win away at Bournemouth, Sunday 19th July

Sheffield United: 1-0 loss at home to Everton, Monday 20th July

Team news

Saints look set to be without wing duo Sofiane Boufal and Moussa Djenepo who have been unavailable with thigh and calf injuries respectively for much of the run in.

Yan Valery returned to the matchday squad for the win over Bournemouth last weekend and will be in contention once again. Jan Bednarek will also return and could come back into the starting line-up whilst Nathan Tella faces a late fitness test.

Sheffield United will be without striker Lys Mousset who has travelled to be with his girlfriend after the birth of their first child.

Luke Freeman is the only other first-team player who remains out, meaning Chris Wilder will have a strong group of players to choose from.

Who will win?

This game could prove to be a very interesting tactical battle and it will be intriguing to see how the afternoon pans out.

Saints will surely keep faith with their trusted 4-2-2-2 formation and will look to worry their opponents with their high-pressing style that has been tireless since the restart of domestic football back in early June.

Sheffield United have a unique style of their own though. Their 3-5-2 is rigid in defence but also allows players to break forward freely and even features centre-backs who overlap like full-backs.

The meeting between these two sides at Bramall Lane was a tight affair that was ultimately decided by a moment of brilliance from Saints man Moussa Djenepo.

With two extremely well drilled setups going head-to-head again this time around, it could be another standout moment like the Malian’s solo goal that claims the three points.

Matchday squads

SAINTS

Alex McCarthy, Angus Gunn, Kyle Walker-Peters, Yan Valery, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand, Jake Vokins, Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse, Will Smallbone, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Stuart Armstrong, Nathan Redmond, Michael Obafemi, Che Adams, Danny Ings, Shane Long

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Dean Henderson, Simon Moore, George Baldock, Chris Basham, John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens, Phil Jagielka, Kieron Freeman, Jack Robinson, Sander Berge, Oliver Norwood, Ben Osborn, John Lundstram, John Fleck, Oli McBurnie, Billy Sharp, David McGoldrick, Leon Clarke, Richairo Zivkovic