After escaping relegation last season, Burnley and Southampton will both be looking to hit the ground running as they meet at Turf Moor.
This clash will see new signings, Jay Rodriguez and Danny Ings lineup against their former sides, as both teams look to improve on their eventual bottom half finishes from last season.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesBurnley could be without Robbie Brady as he battles a rib injury picked up during their 2-0 friendly win over Parma last weekend.
James Tarkowski and Kevin Long however will be available after recovering from respective thigh and groin injuries.
Erik Pieters and Danny Drinkwater could make their Burnley debuts here alongside Rodriguez.
Steven Defour meanwhile remains sidelined with a calf injury but is back jogging on the grass, although he won’t be risked until he is back to full fitness.
Southampton have no fresh injury concerns coming into this game, although Kevin Danso is unlikely to feature after signing just on Friday morning from Augsburg.
Che Adams, Danny Ings and Moussa Djenepo are however set to feature after signing for the Saints this summer.
Form
Burnley come into this match in strong form with six wins from their nine pre-season friendlies, losing just twice and also taking a draw with 14 of their 26 goals coming from Chris Wood (8) and Rodriguez (6).
Southampton avoided defeat in pre-season with four wins and a draw from their five friendlies, with Adams and Ings scoring three goals each to enter the season as joint best scorers from pre-season.
Stat Attack
- Burnley are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Southampton (W2, D3).
- Their last two meetings at Turf Moor have ended in 1-1 draws whilst Burnley won the previous two such clashes beforehand by 1-0 results.
- Both teams also met on the opening weekend of last season but was at St Marys’ and finished goalless.
- Burnley have won just one of their last five opening weekend fixtures to a new season (W1, D2, L2)
- Southampton have drawn their last four opening weekend fixtures since losing 2-1 at Liverpool on the opening weekend of 2014 season, although their last two seasons have opened with goalless draws (D4, L1).
Prediction
Both teams have made decent improvements to key areas and given Southampton’s opening weekend form, I am expecting a good attacking game from both teams.
Carrying pre-season momentum into a new season however can be crucial for some teams and if I am being honest, Burnley look like they will be real threats going forward with Rodriguez and Wood so am going for a home win.
Prediction: Burnley 2-1 Southampton
Result: Burnley 3-0 Southampton