PREVIEW: Southampton v Liverpool

Unavailable: Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Austin

                       Liverpool – Lucas, Stewart, Ings, Gomez, Milner

Shortly after the ball skimmed off Divock Origi’s head to nestle into the back of Maarten Stekelenburg’s net in early December to confirm that Liverpool had ravaged Southampton, referee Bobby Madley concluded affairs at St Mary’s. Long-time resident of the PA room Justin then had a tough decision. Oh, what to bang on after your side has just been mauled? Gallows humour? Maybe “Beautiful Day” would’ve fit the bill. No, Justin opted for “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke – a bizarre finish to a bizarre game.

It was an outlier and an anomaly. While Saints have had an up-and-down campaign, this game would be represented by a cross far off the beaten track on the scatter graph. This is because it goes down as one of the few occasions when Ronald Koeman has well and truly misjudged a situation to catastrophic effect, as the Dutchman later admitted. It had been heralded as an evening when Jürgen Klopp’s tactics were the deciding factor in such a scoreline. Yet while his men were incisive in the second half, the home defence was more porous than a crumpet with a vast array of Saints attackers stranded upfield as Koeman elected to adopt a gung-ho approach. One of the centre-backs that evening was in fact Steven Caulker whose display rivalled that of Alan Bennett’s against Palace in 2007. Although Klopp was evidently so enthralled that he made that sure that the Reds acquired the defender in what has to be one of the more curious calls that the German has made during his brief tenure at Anfield.

Once again, all eyes will be fixed on another ex-Saint though – Adam Lallana. In last season’s encounter at St Mary’s, he was hounded due to the misguided manner in which he departed – and it evidently surprised the midfielder. Perhaps it finally dawned on him that a goodbye should not be said with a photo of a celebration in which he pointed to the back of his shirt. It lacked class. It lacked that personal touch that Rickie Lambert found so effortlessly with a mere letter – not buying a page in the Echo. Nevertheless, the taunting became more vociferous in December. Lallana discovered a way to thrive on it during that game, and it may be time to merely treat him as any other visiting player. The witch hunt distracts people from the game, and after all, it should be quite a spectacle.

The win at Stoke was particularly pleasing and sets Koeman’s men up perfectly for this encounter. They carved out a multitude of chances – two of which Graziano Pellè gleefully tucked away – and then showed admirable resolve, led by Virgil van Dijk who was a mature leader in the absence of José Fonte in the backline. With Victor Wanyama back with a definite point to prove, and Dušan Tadić and Shane Long flanking Pellè, Liverpool’s often shaky defence can be breached. The race for Europa League seems to be a free-for-all with many clubs still vying for qualification. The Reds have games in hand, and Saints need to edge ahead of the chasing pack. Seventh place may not be enough this time round…

Key Battles

Pellè v Sakho: That age-old saying regarding the frequency of buses wouldn’t be adequate to describe the end to Graziano Pellè’s goal drought last Saturday. It was not just the two goals which were impressive though – one of which Jack Butland really should have saved – it was the general impact the Italian had on the game. He thrived on battling against Ryan Shawcross et al, and proved that he could be the man to lead the Saints attack with his hold-up play that allowed his side to break promptly and smoothly. He is often criticised for a lack of running, and of course, his tantrums that can go for several minutes when his arms are thrown up, coupled with a look of anguish that would not be out of place in the theatre. Yet he should not need to run (within reason). If the service into his feet or head is satisfactory, the Italian will bring others into play or finish chances. If this is done correctly on Sunday, he could have a field day against Mamadou Sakho whose playing career has regressed significantly since moving from PSG where he was a promising young player. He is often weak, and lackadaisical in his positioning. The Saints striker should tussle with Liverpool’s centre-backs – they are undoubtedly Klopp’s biggest concern.

Wanyama v Firmino: Victor Wanyama finally returns this Sunday after being sat on the naughty step once again for failing to contain his frustration. Oriol Romeu has impressed in his absence, and has been consistent – something that the Kenyan has not been able to find throughout this season. If both were playing at their peak, Wanyama would get the nod as he has the ability to be a force of nature. But how often does this actually occur? Not nearly enough. Nevertheless, Ronald Koeman will inevitably bring him back in again for this one, as he has done in the past. He will have to control Roberto Firmino who has impressed since arriving from Hoffenheim last summer. The Brazilian is not gifted with pace, but has excellent positional sense, and quick feet, therefore Wanyama has to remain calm and diligent. The time has come for him to prove his worth.

Possible Line-ups

Southampton: Forster – Soares, Fonte (C), Van Dijk, Bertrand – Wanyama, Clasie, S. Davis – Long, Tadić – Pellè

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Mané, Romeu, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi

Liverpool: Mignolet – Flanagan, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno – Lallana, Henderson (C), Can, Coutinho – Firmino – Origi

Ward, Clyne, Touré, Benteke, Sturridge, Allen, Ibe

PREVIEW: Stoke v Southampton

Unavailable: Stoke – Bardsley, Johnson, Wilson

                       Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama, Austin, Fonte

Low on confidence. Check. Missing key players. Check. Only firing on about one cylinder. Check. Yes, it is just about the worst time that Southampton could rock up to the Britannia. In another turn this season (in fact a rather predictable one as Saints’ form has yo-yoed like West Brom in the 2000s), Ronald Koeman’s men are now struggling once again. Within the space of a week after a narrow and unlucky loss to Chelsea, Saints suffered from a lack of fight at Bournemouth, and a lack of ingenuity against Sunderland.

Of course, one does not simply tiptoe through a Sam Allardyce side – that privilege has to be earned through doing the hard graft. That part was achieved successfully. With Jordy Clasie back in the team alongside Oriol Romeu with Steven Davis in front, there was plenty of hustle and bustle in the engine room, but when it came down to it, the necessary spark deserted Saints. The home fans only woke up after Fraser Forster misjudged a free-kick that rattled the post such was the lack of anything at all happening on the pitch in the first half. In fact, their side only really stirred in the final five minutes after José Fonte had been dismissed, and Jermain Defoe had ever so predictably knicked a goal. The equaliser was actually of a very high standard. Stoppage time levellers are usually of poor quality – a ball lumped long and someone prodding it home (à la Papa Waigo’s effort in the dying embers of the JPT Area semi-final), but the build-up was intricate, and it was an extremely satisfactory moment when Virgil van Dijk leathered the ball past Vito Mannone.

So what were these newfound problems? To start with, after an excellent return, Forster has suffered from a lack of confidence with regards to indecision after Chelsea’s equaliser a fortnight ago. The invincibility he felt running through his veins for a month or so has left him. But that will return – with time – the England international has endured a real ordeal over the last year, and it was remarkable in the manner that he came back to create a club record.

The main issue last Saturday was the lopsided nature of the formation. Koeman had evidently put his side into a 4-2-3-1, but while Dušan Tadić operated effectively on the left touchline, Sadio Mané often stood just to the right of Davis who was in the No 10 role. In the first-half, the Senegalese was also extremely languid (but at least he perked up in the second period). This meant that little came from that wing, while Ryan Bertrand and Tadić were the only players who were having any sort of joy. Davis playing in the hole also poses problems. While he is an accomplished, tidy player who is superb as the third central-midfielder (and is only behind Van Dijk for Player of the Season currently); he lacks the driving, incisive presence which is required. Meanwhile, Graziano Pellè put in a decent shift, but still couldn’t link up sufficiently with his team-mates on a number of occasions. Unfortunately, you just get the feeling that his Saints career is fizzling out…

So. Much to be fixed before this Saturday, and a trip to the Potteries. Stoke have been impressive this season if not pretty inconsistent. While their spine remains strong and durable, their attacking flair is entrancing. Saints will have to be firm, and clever when breaking. A pacey counter attack could unlock the home defence – especially with Shane Long running in behind.

Key Battles

Diouf v Yoshida: Maya Yoshida is more than capable of being a solid enough replacement centre-back. If Florin Gardoş comes back with some accomplished performances, then the two can battle it out to be centre-back no 3, but the criticism fired at the Japanese is far too harsh. Slow on the turn he may be, but he is a lot more competent than most give him credit for. He is just simply not a full-back, and should never, ever be played there – unless in a complete emergency. On Saturday, he will have an opportunity in his natural position with José Fonte suspended. Mame Biram Diouf is an awkward customer blessed with pace and power, but Yoshida just needs to track his movement carefully, and if caught out over the top, then his communication with Virgil van Dijk will need to be on point.

Imbula v Clasie: Saints were heavily linked with Giannelli Imbula as a potential Morgan Schneiderlin replacement in the summer, but Ronald Koeman opted for compatriot Jordy Clasie, while Imbula went to Porto, and flopped – badly. Stoke snapped him up quickly at an affordable price before his stock rose again, and it was smart recruiting from the Potters. The Frenchman is incisive and powerful, and has the ability to dominate the midfield. This Saturday, Clasie will have to vindicate Koeman’s decision. The Dutchman is improving gradually, and has now shown that he is tough in the tackle, yet he is still not picking the ball up and dictating play. Stoke will be a harsh acid test of how far he has come in adjusting to the rigours of the Premier League.

Possible Line-ups

Stoke: Butland – Cameron, Shawcross (C), Wollscheid, Pieters – Imbula, Adam – Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnautović – Diouf

Haugaard, Muniesa, Whelan, Joselu, Afellay, Walters, Crouch

Southampton: Forster – Martina, Van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis (C) – Long, Mané – Pellè

Stekelenburg, Soares, Tadić, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi, Olomola

PREVIEW: Southampton v Sunderland

Unavailable: Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama, Austin, Long

                       Sunderland – Cattermole, Watmore, Lens

When asked about last season’s 8-0 mauling of Sunderland at St Mary’s by the club’s in-house media, Ronald Koeman responded by stating that his side will face a sterner test on Saturday. Well, you’re not wrong Ronald. That implosion from the Black Cats on the South Coast was as lacklustre a display as you’re going to see in the Premier League – from anyone. Even the Sunderland side of 2005-06, who grabbed an embarrassing tally of 15 points would have given that side a run for its money – poor Kelvin Davis is still probably reaching for a nightlight every time he thinks about that season in the wee hours, given that he was tasked with unenviable challenge of trying to save that team.

No, this will be a very different occasion. There will be no Gus Poyet in the away dugout. No Dick Advocaat who also departed after a mere six months or so in the North East. It will be Sam Allardyce stood in his technical area, barking out orders so vociferously that he may well spit his chewing gum into the Kingsland. When Southampton narrowly edged Sunderland out at the Stadium of Light in early November, the former Bolton boss’ work had only just commenced. Four months down the line and the Black Cats are a different outfit – professional and primed to escape the drop once again. More than anything else, they seem to have discovered a key element of bite in their game – not the illegal kind that Lee Cattermole seems so delighted to unapologetically administer, but the type that asks a question of the often higher-placed opposition that knocks off them off their perch, and onto a level playing field with the Black Cats.

It is a fate that Southampton know about all too well after an evening of trauma at Dean Court, leading to a witty retort from the home crowd that Saints resembled Pompey. While it was certainly not that bad, it heavily echoed the Midtjylland defeat, and Koeman freely acknowledged that he had wrongly placed his faith in a style that was too gung-ho. The midfield was simply flattened by Harry Arter and Andrew Surman, leaving Bournemouth with ample opportunity to fire the ball into the box. Even when Steven Davis came on, Saints struggled to get their foot on the ball with James Ward-Prowse having one of his ineffective days, and the front three wandering aimlessly due to a distinct lack of service.

It was a disappointing, disjointed display, and Koeman will have to consider that midfield battle once more. Jordy Clasie should return to the fold to partner Oriol Romeu to reprise his role as little terrier in the engine room, while Steven Davis will also probably get the nod to restore some fluidity to the team. Whoever triumphs in the centre of the park could well emerge as the victor, and it may be as much a battle of steel as anything else.

Key Battles

Soares v Khazri: Wahbi Khazri will not be the man to continuously dust his studs with chalk, as he is most certainly not a traditional winger. While Cédric Soares was continuously bombarded by left-back Charlie Daniels who would race to the byline at any opportunity the other night, the Tunisian is a different proposition. He will jink, and attempt every trick in the book to bamboozle the right-back to his core, and the Portuguese will have to be prepared as the attacker has a keen eye for a clever reverse pass. While at Bordeaux, he was a shining light in a distinctly average side, and he should be watched carefully by Soares. He must be cautious if he embarks on his trademark lung busting runs up the right channel.

Pellè v Koné: Another import from Ligue 1, the centre-back has performed well in spite of naysayers’ doubt regarding a lack of Premier League nous in a relegation scrap. Since he has sat alongside John O’Shea, his new side have not haemorrhaged goals as they did previously. He should have an interesting clash with the returning Graziano Pellè who will have an opportunity due to the absence of both Charlie Austin and Shane Long. The Italian’s hold-up play has not been of the required standard in recent appearances, and he will need to spearhead the side well if Saints are to regain momentum in the battle for a Europa League spot.

Possible Line-ups

Southampton: Forster – Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis – Tadić – Pellè

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Mané, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi

Sunderland: Mannone – Yedlin, Koné, Kaboul, Van Aanholt – Kirchoff – N’Doye, M’Vila, Rodwell, Khazri – Defoe

Pickford, Jones, Larsson, Borini, Matthews, O’Shea, Toivonen

PREVIEW: Bournemouth v Southampton

Unavailable: Bournemouth – Stanislas, Wilson, Mings

                      Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama

All good things have to come to an end – but as Cesc Fabregàs’ cross timidly bounced away from Fraser Forster for the first goal he had conceded in 708 minutes – it was to be an end that was fraught with disappointment. Branislav Ivanović then compounded matters by sending a powerful header towards goal that thudded off Forster’s wrist before nestling in the Northam goal to hand Southampton their first defeat since early January. Saints now have a chance to leave those melancholic memories in the fading sunlight at St Mary’s with this midweek trip to Dean Court (stadium sponsorship names should be culled in the public sphere whenever possible).

Yet it does not seem as if there are a great amount of errors to address prior to that short trip to Dorset. For the first 30 minutes on Saturday, Saints worked their opponents well, continuing to spray the ball around patiently, but were also mindful of how a direct approach could harm the visitors. Shane Long gleefully dinked the ball beyond Thibaut Courtois to hand Saints a merited advantage, but by that point Chelsea had discovered an entrancing rhythm that was hard to keep pace with – half-time was a mere stay of execution for Saints.

The second period brought sustained pressure as the Blues zipped the ball around the edge of their attacking third while Ronald Koeman’s three-man engine room honourably strived to disrupt them. Eventually, they succumbed. Petty squabbles amongst the opposing players didn’t help (Diego Costa continues to add to the “annoying sod” section of his character reference), but the hosts inevitably dropped back, as Chelsea’s quality left them fatigued. Still, it was a more than satisfactory showing from the team bar Graziano Pellè who most likely did the complete opposite of what Koeman instructed him to do from the bench – probably wheeling out more flicks and pirouettes than he did dancing as a youngster.

The Bournemouth game will bring a different challenge as they have recently switched to a swashbuckling 4-4-2 that will be far less concentrated on possession football, as Eddie Howe has sacrificed a central midfielder with an abundance of strikers at his disposal. While the 4-3-3 he has often adopted has been sturdy, neat and tidy – it doesn’t exactly scream attacking prowess. That changed at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Granted, the Cherries only secured a 0-0 stalemate, however they undoubtedly had the better of the game, and Howe’s men were unlucky not to reap the rewards that their courage deserved.

As Koeman stated in his press conference, Saints have to squeeze six points out their two fixtures this week if they have genuine European aspirations. A fifth straight win against a club who are desperate for any form of “local bragging rights” also wouldn’t go amiss.

Key Battles

Arter v S. Davis: Harry Arter is the archetypal box-to-box midfielder – unfortunately a dying breed in the Premier League. As Eddie Howe has reverted to a 4-4-2, it gives the Republic of Ireland international license to move forward as well as backwards, in comparison to playing a defensive role in the engine room where his offensive talent is restrained. Steven Davis is a similar player, with a bit less blood and thunder to his game, therefore it will be interesting to see how the two match up against each other.

Afobe v Bertrand: Ryan Bertrand has slotted in ably as a third centre-back, and in doing so, has added another string to his bow. He adds extra balance to the defence with his left foot, and can easily run upfield with José Fonte, and Virgil van Dijk shuffling across behind him. However, it has rarely been the case that the newly composed trio have had to face two strikers, who will inevitably try to shift and manipulate the Saints defence. Benik Afobe has been a hit since his January move from Wolves, and will look to surge past Bertrand with pace and power when given the opportunity. As ever, good communication between the three will be imperative.

Possible Line-ups

Bournemouth: Boruc – Smith, Francis (C), Cook, Daniels – Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh – King, Afobe

Federici, Gosling, Elphick, Gradel, Iturbe, Distin, Murray

Southampton: Forster – Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis – Mané, Austin

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Tadić, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Pellè, Juanmi

PREVIEW: Southampton v Chelsea

Unavailable: Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama

                       Chelsea – Zouma, Falcao

During the two week break between the away win at Swansea and this Saturday’s encounter with Chelsea, it has been business as usual at Staplewood. No holiday to Dubai. No jolly in La Manga. Not even a repeat of last season’s team building session in Switzerland that threatened to injure as many people as The Jump has. It has simply been a fortnight spent together at home for the squad to recharge and prepare themselves for the run in that is to come.

After experiencing what has often been a disappointing season, I would not be hugely perplexed if Southampton lay in mid-table, but given the weird, wonderful and fairly wacky nature of this campaign, Saints are now in sixth, and hounding Manchester United who uneasily sit one point ahead. Impetus has returned to the south coast, and no doubt the players will be itching to sink their teeth back into Premier League action this weekend.

Beyond the excellent form of his side, Ronald Koeman had another reason for the grin that was stretched across his face in the pre-match press conference – a return to training this week for Florin Gardoş and Jay Rodriguez. As ever, it will be the latter who will attract more attention, but the Romanian is also a talented performer who has not yet had an adequate opportunity to stake his claim. Clearly, José Fonte and Virgil van Dijk will continue to act as undisputed top dogs at centre-back, but should Koeman wish to employ a 5-3-2, Gardoş would be more than able to challenge for the remaining spot as he attempts to snatch a place in his country’s EURO 2016 squad.

Unfortunately, that possibility is somewhat more unlikely for Rodriguez. The striker would surely settle for a uninterrupted run with his club side until May, and grab a few goals to remind the naysayers of his abilities. The Burnley boy will only turn 27 this summer, and still has another three years on his contract – leaving him more than enough time to properly gel with those around him. Neither are ready to play this Saturday, but they will further complement a squad that currently poses an agreeable test for Koeman in that it is currently a challenge to pick an 18, let alone his starting line-up.

That will leave opponents Chelsea guessing as to what tactics the Dutchman will adopt right up until two o’clock on Saturday. Yet the Blues will come to St Mary’s in improved mood after a mild upturn in form and a narrow Champions League defeat in Paris – standards have clearly dropped at Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, Saturday’s visitors are a different proposition under Guus Hiddink than they were when Saints last played against them in October. While José Mourinho appeared to be like the strict, demeaning teacher who students would lambast behind his back, Hiddink is the calm, composed sub – respected by his pupils who were disappointed the last time he departed.

The performance levels of numerous players have shot up since the Dutchman took charge in West London, but progress will be judged by achievements in the FA Cup and Champions League now, as a spot in the Premier League’s top four seems heavily unlikely. Regardless of that, Hiddink will hope to lever his men into the top half at least, and with his squad buoyed by new arrival Alexandre Pato to relieve some of the pressure on Diego Costa, they will be troublesome customers at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.

Key Battles

Romeu v Willian: Handed off by Chelsea to Saints at a cut-down price, Oriol Romeu has put in several admirable displays this season, and has been unlucky to have been overlooked on multiple occasions despite the erratic form of Victor Wanyama. Aggressive in the tackle, and able to sweep balls forward with accuracy, he is an ideal partner to anchor the midfield alongside Jordy Clasie. He will face a real challenge on Saturday though, as Willian will sit in the hole, and inevitably cause some problems for the Saints rearguard. With his quick feet and exceptional movement, the Brazilian combines well with Costa, therefore Romeu will have to pester the attacker throughout the afternoon.

Long v Cahill: A large part of the reason why Ronald Koeman has not lost to Chelsea in the Premier League is his willingness to play direct against them. While others quaked at the mere sight of the Blues last season, the Dutchman was brave with Sadio Mané and Shane Long sent to disturb the peace in Chelsea’s backline. Although Gary Cahill has improved remarkably since Guus Hiddink’s arrival, Long will hope to run at and unsettle him with his usual uncompromising style. This will inevitably leave gaps which Branislav Ivanović or John Terry may not be able to plug – leaving Mané to occupy them if selected.

Possible Line-ups

Southampton: Forster – Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis – Mané, Long

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Tadić, Ward-Prowse, Pellè, Juanmi, Austin

Chelsea: Courtois – Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanović, Rahman – Mikel, Fàbregas – Pedro, Willian, Hazard – Costa

Begović, Oscar, Pato, Rémy, Matić, Terry, Loftus-Cheek

PREVIEW: Swansea v Southampton

Unavailable: Swansea – No unavailable players

                       Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama

Last Saturday, as Victor Wanyama miscontrolled a simple ball to intercept, and then watched Dimitri Payet tip toe around him, leaving the Kenyan clutching at thin air – I just had an inkling, being the pessimistic person concerning Southampton, that it would hurt Saints in one of two ways. Either the talented Frenchman would feather the accelerator and make his way towards goal, and slam the ball into the net to leave the press purring again, or the Saints midfielder would do something completely rash, and unnecessary. It was the latter. The Kenyan attempted to scythe Payet down with a scissor tackle that barely caught the man from La Réunion, but his antics of waving his legs straight up into the air as if he was a woeful synchronised swimmer did the trick. Yes, it could have been a yellow, but the Saints man was dismissed, and I have already used all the adjectives under the sun to describe how idiotic it was (that was one of those adjectives) to leap in in the manner he did.

But I would now prefer to concentrate on the aftermath of that incident, and the added grit that has levered Saints back up the table. With a strong, organised spine, the team rallied, and remained focused until the end bar one West Ham header that flew past Fraser Forster’s left-hand post. After an uncomfortable start to the season, José Fonte has come to the fore once again, and seems to be somewhat more adept in the centre-centre-back role within that back five. As the last line of defence before the opposition try to breach Forster’s goal, the Portuguese can order and shift his team around as if he is looking over a chess board. Last season, he was stuck on the right-hand side of the three centre-backs while Toby Alderweireld was given the nod, but this time round, the Saints skipper has the most responsibility. Marshalled by the Portuguese, and Oriol Romeu who was roaming around the midfield with the necessary aggression to knock the Hammers off their game, the team were also aided by leaving two up top which left a lingering doubt in the visitors’ mind about how many men they should leave back.

The workmanlike performance that has seen them over the line in the last three outings will have to be mixed with a bit of panache and style to see them take the spoils against Swansea though. The hosts are on form currently with new manager Francesco Guidolin helping his side away from the relegation zone. Well regimented, and blessed with flair, the Swans just miss that Midas touch in front of goal. Bafétimbi Gomis is a powerful presence, however he has been suppressed by a combination of injuries, and a lack of confidence.

Meanwhile, Saints have a squad that is nearly injury-free, with Florin Gardoş and Jay Rodriguez both making their way back onto the pitch. The charge for Europe could be on when you realise the strength in depth that they possess. A two-week break after this fixture will allow them to rest, therefore a performance full of vigour and high intensity should be expected by Ronald Koeman’s men in South Wales.

Key Battles

Cork v S. Davis: Jack Cork will be desperate to impress after Ronald Koeman informed him in the most amiable of ways that he would not be usurping Victor Wanyama or Morgan Schneiderlin last season. Such was Cork’s hunger, he was discontent with being No. 3 in line, and upped sticks to move to Swansea, where he slid into place perfectly. A neat, tidy player whose tackling ability was often overshadowed by Schneiderlin’s abilities, the former England Under-21 man, can also deploy balls forward to hurt Saints, therefore it will be imperative to shut him down early. Returning midfield maestro Steven Davis certainly has the tools to do this. With the Northern Ireland captain back in the side, Saints instantly become a better side, as he provides a certain doggedness along with a talent to link play up, as well as a consistency that makes him a key man for Koeman.

Routledge v Soares: After going through several unsuccessful spells at various clubs at the start of his career, it had been thought that Wayne Routledge’s talent would fizzle out, as he slid down the Football League. He was however, revitalised at Swansea, and even though he has been less prolific this season, he is still a difficult player to contend with. Cédric Soares will have to be wary of the winger attempting to race inside – or outside of him.

Possible Line-ups

Swansea: Fabiański – Rangel, Fernández, Williams (C), Taylor – Cork, Ki – Ayew, Sigurðsson, Routledge – Paloschi

Nordfeldt, Amat, Britton, Gomis, Montero, Naughton, Barrow

Southampton: Forster – Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis – Mané, Long

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Tadić, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Pellè, Austin

PREVIEW: Southampton v West Ham

Unavailable: Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez

                       West Ham – Jenkinson, Lanzini, Sakho

Nearly four years ago, Southampton visited Upton Park as they slogged it out with their hosts for a spot in the Premier League with Jos Hooiveld scoring to cement his status as a cult hero, prior to being scapegoated by many Saints fans for his own-goal scoring spree in the Premier League.

This Saturday, it will be a slightly more lucrative, but somewhat less-pressured slog for the prize the two clubs are aiming for – Europa League football. Ironically, both sides spurned the reward of a European group stage berth in qualifying during the formative stages of this campaign. While West Ham showed a genuine lack of concern with Europe’s secondary competition in a long drawn qualification process, Saints were in it for the long haul after a hard earned seventh place finish. A longer stay in the Europa League next season would benefit the progression of both clubs – ideally without the pernickety ordeal of qualification. Games against teams such as Midtjylland and Astra Giurgiu are not as uncomplicated as they would first appear.

Nevertheless, the path to that prize still stretches out far into distance for both sides. It was only this time last month that Saints were in danger of slipping into the joys of a scrap to avoid the drop that would be so harmful from a financial viewpoint. The dogged nature displayed on Tuesday night mixed with the free-flowing offensive play in the Watford match has allowed Ronald Koeman’s men to ease themselves up into the top half of the table. There was also a sense of cohesion about the team that handed Saints the platform to take a point away from the Emirates.

This was borne from a defence that was shifted into a back four, but did not panic, even when under great strain in the second half. In front of them stood Oriol Romeu and Victor Wanyama. The Spaniard has warranted more playing time due to some excellent displays in the engine room, but in the past has always looked weakest when paired with the Kenya captain. In the past, the two players had always dropped far too deep onto the toes of José Fonte and Virgil van Dijk, leaving a vast amount of space in front of them for the opposition to attack. Yet the Gunners struggled to break through the defensive midfield duo, and they gave real balance to the team. On Saturday, Koeman will have to make the call as to whether Jordy Clasie should be given the nod in a game where his team are likely to have a far greater portion of the possession than they enjoyed against Arsenal.

The midfield battle will be key as that is what provides structure for the Hammers. Cheikhou Kouyaté and Alex Song combine well to safeguard the West Ham backline, therefore intricate passing, and intelligent moves from the Saints midfield will be necessary to unlock that door. A large part of that is dependent on the return of Steven Davis, who has arguably been Southampton’s player of the season. The Northern Ireland captain is not gifted with pace, but he manages to ghost into the No 10 slot, and work in tight areas. It would be surprising if it wasn’t a case of tight margins under the lights at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Key Battles

Clasie v Noble: These two playmakers should go up against each other on Saturday. Mark Noble is in fact one of the most underrated central midfielders in the Premier League, and has the ability to pick a pass to carve through defences in a heartbeat. Clasie will have to strangulate the Hammers captain’s hold on the game, and stick to him, while successfully linking the play from defence to attack down the other end. The Dutchman has impressed of late, and was unlucky to be dropped against Arsenal. Slowly but surely, he has acclimatised to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, and could stamp his mark in the closing months of the season.

Bertrand v Antonio: Saints fans need no introduction to Michail Antonio. During a loan spell in 2009/10, he was a real favourite with his direct, physical approach play. Many were disappointed not to see him sign at the end of that season, but then he was subsequently written off by many as a player who would linger in the Championship for the rest of his career. Oh how they were wrong. The winger has adopted the same style of play in the Premier League this season, winning many plaudits with some scintillating displays. Ryan Bertrand has been back to his best lately – either as a left centre-back or at left-back – but the sheer pace and power of Antonio will have to be monitored carefully by the England international.

Possible Line-ups

Southampton: Forster – Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Wanyama, Clasie, S. Davis – Mané, Austin

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Long, Tadić, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Pellè

West Ham: Adrián – Tomkins, Collins, Reid, Cresswell – Song, Kouyaté, Noble (C) – Antonio, Valencia, Payet

Randolph, Carroll, Obiang, Moses, Ogbonna, Byram, Jelavić