MY ACCOUNT
– Both teams have scored in three of Southampton’s last five home PL matches
– Both teams have scored in both Palace games under returning boss Hodgson
– Recommended Bet: Back Both teams to score
The Premier League’s youngest manager takes on the oldest when Ruben Selles’ Southampton host Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.
Selles’ Saints tenure began with two victories in his first three Premier League games, but two draws and three defeats in the last five have left the club four points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.
His 75-year-old Eagles counterpart has enjoyed a thrilling return to the Selhurst Park hot seat, engineering back-to-back wins against Leicester and Leeds.
Those successes, which have been achieved with a season-high 31 shots against the Foxes and a season-low average shot distance at Elland Road, suggest the usually pragmatic Palace boss has been letting the handbrake off.
Team news
Armel Bella-Kotchap shrugged off a shoulder problem to face Man City and looks likely to continue in defence alongside Jan Bednarek.
Mohammed Salisu was reportedly left out of the Saints squad for the last two games because of doubts over his commitment to the club.
Stuart Armstrong could replace Mohamed Elyounossi on the left, while Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo did their chances of a recall some good by combining for Southampton’s consolation goal last weekend.
No changes are anticipated for Palace with Hodgson likely to stick with the same team that destroyed Leeds in the second half last Sunday.
Although Michael Olise won the official Man of the Match award for his three-assist display, the manager reserved his post-match praise for two-goal striker Jordan Ayew.
Sam Johnstone looks likely to keep his place in goal after an excellent display in relief of the injured Vicente Guaita.
The stats
Southampton have lost 11 Premier League games by one goal, spanning three different managers, this season.
Only Bournemouth (17) have conceded more goals from set-pieces in the 2022-23 Premier League, excluding penalties, than the Saints (13) and all but one of those was a header, which is the most allowed in the division.
Palace have taken 47 shots across Hodgson’s first two games — more than any other club have managed in the last two rounds of Premier League fixtures.
Prediction
Southampton set out to press Man City last week and it always looked like being a very risky strategy to deploy against a team with such quality and cohesion.
Selles may think it is worth trying again when up against clearly inferior opponents to the reigning champions, but Southampton do not have anyone with the sort of predatory instinct to finish off opportunities that high turnovers can produce.
Palace played their way through Leeds’ flagging press after a half-time adjustment, but they lacked the appetite for the battle when put under pressure by their hosts in the early stages.
That suggests there could be an ebb and flow to this game as well with both teams likely to enjoy strong periods in the game.
Back both teams to score – Yes at 17/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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