1 Southampton vs 1 Ipswich Town
Southampton in search of maiden PL win against fellow promoted Ipswich.
In a battle of the newly promoted, Southampton faces Ipswich Town at St. Mary's Stadium, hoping to secure their first Premier League win and lift themselves from the bottom after a dismal start to the season.
Southampton
After an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Manchester United last time out, Southampton had some reason to celebrate following an EFL Cup third-round win over fellow strugglers Everton. A 6-5 win via a penalty shootout saw the Saints sneak into the next round after an initial 1-1 draw.
In their Premier League game against the Red Devils, Jack Stephens was given a red card moments before Garnacho scored the final goal in stoppage time. That defeat left Southampton with four opening losses, sitting inside the bottom three in 19th place.
Although these are early days in the Premier League, Southampton’s torrid form could spell eventual doom for the side who only returned to the Premier League after one season of absence. They take on fellow promoted side Ipswich Town on Saturday, hoping a win over the Tractor Boys would see them turn a corner. Despite their best attempts, the Saints haven't led for a single minute in the Premier League this season.
While they would be keen to end their four-game losing run, a 1-0 home loss to Ipswich Town in the Championship last time out could end up leaving the Saints with back-to-back home defeats against the visitors. A 4-3-3 formation with Maxwel Cornet, Brereton, and Tyler Dibling in attack is expected for this meeting. Jack Stephens is suspended following the red card from last week.
Ipswich Town
Fellow Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town appear to be gradually settling into Premier League life. The visitors earned a valuable point in a goalless draw against Brighton last time out.
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich's manager, praised the team's spirit, fight, and commitment in that challenging match. "It certainly was a hard-fought draw," McKenna said following the hard-earned point.
While Ipswich remain in search of their first win since returning to the top flight, last weekend’s draw against the Seagulls earned them their second point of the season [0W, 2D, 2L]. They are only two spots above Saturday’s opponents, sitting in 17th place before their meeting.
Historically, Ipswich have won more Premier League games against the Saints than any other side [5]. McKenna is hoping this record will inspire his team as they seek their first Premier League win in 22 years.
A 4—2—3—1 formation with Liam Delap in attack is anticipated for this fixture. However, as many as three players, including Nathan Broadhead, are ruled out for the trip to Southampton.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.