Southampton FC have studied their fixture list, and although every Premier League contest is critical, there are three matches deserving serious attention.
Every match matters in the Premier League as a point per game means big dollar returns for your club. Last season, Southampton FC’s key match may have been the November home win over Watford, but some would argue it was “the loss,” against Leicester.
In many ways, the season defines a key match, but on paper, there are three matches which stick out as landmark events even before the Saints kick a ball.
How to identify a key match is subject to interpretation. It could be a revenge game, an early-season test, a late-season six-pointer, or a true south coast derby with AFC Bournemouth. The latter intentionally delivered with sarcasm. No matter how you perceive a key match, there are a few opponents lined up at prime stages in the season that top the rest.
Southampton fans are feeling ambitious in predicting a top-half finish while potentially contending for Europe. These lofty goals will undoubtedly play a role in key matches along the way.
Top six squads all have targets on their back according to Ralph Hasenhuttl as he always seeks to test his side against the very best. Therefore, we can consider at least one big-money club to be an important fixture in 2020-21.
You may agree, you may not, but here are three fixtures identified to be incredibly important Premier League matches for Southampton FC in 2020-21.