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Southampton vs Crystal Palace: Breaking Premier League line-ups for both

By Marc Walker

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A general internal view of St Marys Stadium, home stadium of Southampton ahead of the Premier League match between Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary's Stadium on February 14, 2021 in Southampton, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sam Bagnall - AMA/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A general internal view of St Marys Stadium, home stadium of Southampton ahead of the Premier League match between Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary's Stadium on February 14, 2021 in Southampton, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sam Bagnall - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Southampton will be looking to move back up the Premier League table when they play Crystal Palace this evening.

A 2-0 win for Burnley over Fulham last night gave Saints a positive in that their top-flight status was confirmed for another season, but the result also saw Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side slip down to 17th.

They will surely be looking to improve on this in the final four games of the 2020/21 season to both make their efforts seem a little more respectable and to secure some more vital funds from a higher finishing position.

Roy Hodgson and his team that include a number of talented individuals reached the 40 point mark again with a win over Sheffield United last time out and will still provide a significant test for Saints to overcome.

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace is challenged by James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings of Southampton (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace is challenged by James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings of Southampton (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Ahead of the game, Danny Ings was given a good chance to come back into the matchday squad by Ralph Hasenhuttl, but Ryan Bertrand and Oriol Romeu will still be on the sidelines.

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Palace had received some good news with defensive trio Gary Cahill, James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho all close to returning to full fitness.

These two sides met in the first round of fixtures of this season and it was Palace who claimed a 1-0 win on home turf thanks to Wilfried Zaha’s goal. It was a less than convincing showing from Saints, who have shown the very best and very worst of their differing form in the 33 games since.

The key news for Saints with the breaking line-ups is that Danny Ings and Takumi Minamino start as Hasenhuttl tries to add some creativity to his team.

Confirmed Saints line-up

Fraser Forster; Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Jack Stephens; James Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong; Nathan Redmond, Takumi Minamino; Che Adams, Danny Ings

Subs: Alex McCarthy, Mohammed Salisu, Will Ferry, Moussa Djenepo, Ibrahima Diallo, Dan N’Lundulu, Michael Obafemi, Theo Walcott, Nathan Tella

Confirmed Palace line-up

Vicente Guaita; Joel Ward, Cheikou Kouyate, Scott Dann, Tyreke Mitchell; Luka Milivojevic, Jaro Riedewald, Eberechi Eze; Wilfried Zaha, Jordan Ayew, Christian Benteke

Subs: Jack Butland, Martin Kelly, Jeffrey Schlupp, Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt, Michy Batshuayi, Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Andros Townsend, James McCarthy

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