Southampton welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to St Mary’s Stadium live on BBC One in this Super Sunday’s opening match.
Victory will send Southampton up to 13th, whereas Brighton can climb to 16th with a win.
Team News
Moussa Djenepo is a doubt for Southampton after suffering a groin injury in their midweek defeat at Manchester City.
Danny Ings, Theo Walcott (both muscle), Oriol Romeu (ankle), Will Smallbone (knee) and Michael Obafemi (unspecified) remain absent.
Brighton will be without Aaron Connolly as the result of a cracked rib which keeps the youngster out until early April.
Adam Webster (ankle), Tariq Lamptey (hamstring), Florian Andone and Solly March (both knee) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Southampton are unbeaten in their last five matches against Brighton (W3, D2).
- Brighton have drawn all three Premier League trips to Southampton (D3), with two of three draws finishing 1-1.
- Both teams have converted all five penalties between them in seven Premier League meetings, with Southampton scoring both of their spot-kicks to Brighton’s three penalties.
- Brighton have netted more than once in just five of 16 away games in all competitions this season.
- Five of Southampton’s last seven home goals have come in the first half.
Prediction
Having endured a difficult start to 2021, Southampton will be pleased with their two performances in the last week because they looked incredibly comfortable in their win at Sheffield United last weekend, before following that up with two goals which is a real positive despite losing at Man City on Wednesday evening.
Brighton meanwhile were unlucky in their defeat against Leicester last Saturday because they made a confident start and held up well once the Foxes hit their stride, although a mixture of poor defending and finishing eventually proved the Seagulls’ downfall.
I therefore am excited to see what happens here because Southampton will be keen to continue rebuilding their confidence after two strong displays, whereas Brighton need to just keep doing what they’re doing but with better defending and take their chances more clinically.
A draw though feels like a good bet here given the quality and form of both teams unless Southampton can deliver a much stronger display that overwhelms Brighton.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Brighton
Result: Southampton 1-2 Brighton
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