Southampton vs Sheffield United Preview: Can Saints start another unbeaten streak?

After a disappointing hiccup against Manchester United at the end of November, Southampton bounced back against Brighton on Monday with a 2-1 victory. Facing Sheffield United on Sunday, can the side begin another run of matches unbeaten?

Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, the Saints have had quite the successful start to the 2020-2021 campaign. After stringing together a run of seven unbeaten in the league until a heartbreaking late loss to Manchester United at the end of November, the side will look to start a new streak for December when Sheffield United visit St. Mary’s on Sunday.

With the side healthy after a few players were banged up recently, Southampton will look to get back to their full health and form against a struggling Sheffield side. The biggest returning player news is obviously Danny Ings, who came back in the second half on Monday to net the winner against Brighton. Nathan Redmond will also return to the side but is unlikely to join the starting XI right away.

Sheffield United will be without defender Jack O’Connell, with Saints potentially missing youngster Will Smallbone.

Saints have won three and drew one in their last five, scoring at least two goals in each of their last six home matches, whereas the Blades have lost all of their previous five matches and are currently riding a streak of seven away losses while sitting last in the league table.

How Southampton Will Win

With a mostly fully returned squad, Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side will look to be in the driver’s seat at home against a side with just one point in league play thus far. The biggest key to the Saints’ victory will be keeping the pressure up and not throttling back against an (on paper) weaker side.

However, the Blades have yet to keep a clean sheet this season in league play, which looks promising for Danny Ings and company on the attacking side of play. Fortunately for Alex McCarthy and the side’s defense, they have also only managed five goals on the season, with their leading goalscorer being David McGoldrick.

As long as Saints are able to minimize their mistakes and score early and often, they should be able to dominate the match at home. With Ings in the middle of a rumored big-money contract extension, fans should look for him to potentially put on a show against a weaker defense to further prove his value.

How Sheffield United Will Win

Struggling mightily in league play this year, many have already counted Sheffield United out as an easy match on club’s schedules. But Saints should not discount the side quite yet, as the Blades have generally at least been close in most of their matches, losing five of their last six league matches by only a one-goal margin.

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

If the Blades can get after Southampton’s defense and capitalize on any mistakes the Saints may make, they stand a chance of earning at least a point at St. Mary’s. It may take quite the effort from the side’s attackers including Oliver McBurnie who scored early in a 2-1 extra-time loss to Leicester City last weekend.

If Chris Wilder’s side comes out swinging knowing their current position at the bottom of the table is dire, they could easily put up a fight and earn some points on Sunday.

Predicted Lineups

Southampton: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Alex McCarthy

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand, Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Kyle Walker-Peters

Midfielders: Moussa Djenepo, James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Stuart Armstrong

Strikers: Che Adams, Danny Ings

Sheffield United: 3-5-2

Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale

Defenders: Kean Bryan, John Egan, Chris Basham

Midfielders: Max Lowe, John Fleck, Sander Berge, John Lundstram, George Baldock

Strikers: Oliver Burke, Oliver McBurnie

Predicted Score

Southampton 3 – Sheffield United 1

I believe that with Ings back likely for the full 90′, Saints will prove too much at home for Sheffield’s defense, with Ings, Ward-Prowse, and Armstrong all finding goals, and the Blades finding a goal sometime in the first half.