Two games are scheduled to feature in the Premier League this Friday. Our focus for this one will be at the St. Marys' Stadium as Southampton look to continue their impressive run of form. They entertain Newcastle United who is in search of consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Steve Bruce got the better of Ralph Hasenhuttl in both legs in the league last season. As such, The Saints welcome the Magpies to the St. Marys looking to get their first win since the 2015/16 season. This sets up this game nicely given that the Saints kick-off this game as favourites taking into account their current run of form.
Can The Saints keep this up?
Southampton will certainly feel they're good enough to push for a spot in Europe next season. If they keep up this form, they would certainly manage that but that is easier said than done. Hasenhuttl and his troops currently sit at 5th place with 13 points copped from a possible 21. The Southampton faithful will certainly need some more consistent performances from players like Ings and Ward-Prowse if they're to achieve a top finish at the end of the season.
Southampton paid a visit to Villa Park last weekend in what turned out to be a seven-goal thriller. The first four went the way of the Saints three of which originated from a Ward-Prowse set-piece. Mings, Watkins, and Grealish were on the scoresheet for the home side. However, that wasn't enough to stop the Saints from extending their unbeaten run in the league to five games.
More consistent performances demanded by the Magpies' faithful
Steve Bruce and his troops have been impressive in the league this season. However, they haven't managed to put out similar performances in consecutive games. As such, they haven't managed two wins in a row even if they have three wins from seven games.
The Magpies got their third win of the season in their most recent game against Everton at the St. James' Park. Wilson's brace in the second half trumped Calvert-Lewin's late goal as Newcastle ran out 2-1 winners.
Southampton vs Newcastle United Team News
Ings, Bertrand, and Bednarek are rated doubtful for this game after the trio picked up knocks in that 4-3 win at Villa. With regards to the away side, Shelvey, Ritchie, Dubravka, and Gayle are all out of Friday night's clash
Southampton possible lineup:
McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Stephens, Vestergaard, Diallo; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Walcott; Adams, Long
Newcastle possible line up:
Darlow; Lewis, Lascelles, Schar, Fernandez, Murphy; Hendrick, Almiron, Longstaff; Saint-Maximin, Wilson
Southampton vs Newcastle Prediction: 1-1
The Magpies will be keen on extending their unbeaten run against the Saints as they travel to Southampton. They would feel they have a huge chance to do that with the absence of Ings who has been heavily involved in half of Southampton's goals this season. The Saints, nonetheless, are expected to score given that Newcastle has failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since their opening day victory against West Ham.
In general, we don't think Southampton will be as good as they normally would be with Ings on the pitch, and with Wilson and Saint-Maximin at the other end of the field, we believe this game ends in a scoring draw.