Aston Villa vs Southampton
Date: 01/11/2020
K/O: 12:00
Venue: Villa Park
Referee: Darren England
Two of this season’s surprise packages clash, as Aston Villa host Southampton.
Two of this season’s bright starters face-off as Aston Villa host Southampton. The Villans come into the match off the back of their first defeat and first points dropped this season. Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds schooled the Midlands side, coming away from Villa Park 3-0 victors. Villa’s 100% record in the league thus far had reflected a potential new chapter in the side’s Premier League story. However, the Leeds defeat certainly reminded everyone that Villa are far from the finished article.
Dean Smith’s men come into the Southampton fixture with a goal to steady the ship. After such a one-sided loss, it will be necessary for the Villa fan-turned-manager to keep his side’s feet firmly on the ground, and not let their lighting start allow them to get ahead of themselves. Smith will have no doubt reminded his side that only last season were they fighting relegation, and that could still well be a possibility this year.
This weekend’s fixture provides a fantastic opportunity for Villa to assure themselves that their brilliant start wasn’t a fluke and that they deserve to be fighting at the upper end of the Premier League. The league’s youngest average side so far this season, Villa have mounted impressive results against the likes of Liverpool and Leicester. However, with almost every side they have played so far having key injuries, it is still doubtful whether Villa’s league position accurately reflects their quality. With a chance for some fresh faces to be introduced into the starting eleven, a victory against an impressive Southampton side could certainly give Villa every bit of confidence they need to continue their impressive early form.
The opponents to Smith’s side, Southampton, could be this season’s surprise package. Ralph Hassnhutl has transformed the south coast side from relegation favourites to one of the Premier League’s most underrated sides. This was evident in their last outing against Everton, where they handed the Toffees their first defeat of the season. The footballing world widely considered this an upset; however, those who have followed the Saints more closely over recent months may not have been as surprised at their dominance.
Since the restart last season, Southampton have taken the 4th highest amount of points possible in the Premier League. Hassnhutl’s side has established a well-drilled system with effective players in key areas, such as their strikeforce of Ings and Adams. Danny Ings is widely credited for Southampton’s impressive attacking outputs. However, Che Adams has played an arguably equal part in the partnership of both scoring and creating. The duo have scored 60% of the Saints goals this season, and both could see themselves again near the top of the Golden Boot charts come to the end of the season. They may not be the most glamorous partnership in the league; however, they prove that hard work and belief in a system can reap the rewards and both fully deserve more exposure than what they currently receive.
This weekend’s tie could shape up to be one of the best of the gameweek. Two in-form sides will both come into the game with a lot to prove in their own rights, and neither side are likely will settle for a draw. Looking at the ambitions of both sides this season, this could be an early match to contend who may be the ‘best of the rest’ this season.
Team News:
Aston Villa:
Dean Smith has no new injury concerns, with Heaton, Wesley and Hause all out.
Southampton:
Hassnhutl will have a full-strength squad coming into the Villa tie.
Predicted Starting XIs:
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Barkley, Grealish, Watkins, Trezeguet
Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond, Adams, Ings
Predicted Score: Aston Villa 1-2 Southampton
After a strong start, the Leeds defeat could have taken the wind out of Villa’s sails. Southampton is in a great position following their Everton victory to take another three points.
