West Ham United will endeavour to end a run of five Premier League games without a win when they welcome already-relegated Southampton to the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Hammers are hoping to complete their first league over the Saints since 2019-20 after securing a slender 1-0 win in the reverse fixture at St Mary's in December, courtesy of a second-half strike from Jarrod Bowen.
Match preview
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After claiming back-to-back wins at the end of February against Arsenal and Leicester City, West Ham have since alternated between defeat and a draw in their last five Premier League outings, most recently losing 2-1 away to champions-elect Liverpool last weekend.
The Hammers looked on course to claim an admirable point at Anfield when Andrew Robertson put the ball into his own net four minutes from time, but Reds captain Virgil van Dijk powered home a match-winning header just a couple of minutes later to condemn Graham Potter to his sixth defeat in 12 league games since taking the reins in January.
Although West Ham have slipped to 17th in the Premier League table, they sit a comfortable 14 points clear of the relegation zone and can almost guarantee top-flight survival for a 13th straight season with a victory over Southampton. They are also just three points behind Everton in 13th spot.
West Ham will fancy their chances of success on Saturday, as they have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games against the Saints (W8 D3) - going down 3-2 on home soil in December 2021.
However, Potter is hoping to improve the Hammers' home form, as they have only come out on top in two of their last seven league fixtures at the London Stadium (D1 L4), failing to score on four occasions.
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Southampton's first Premier League game following confirmation of their relegation, and their first since the departure of Ivan Juric, ended in defeat as they suffered a 3-0 home loss to Aston Villa last weekend.
The Saints have now lost 26 of their 32 Premier League matches this season, the most that they have ever lost in a league campaign in their 139-year history, while their current loss percentage of 81% is the highest by any team in a top-flight campaign in history.
As of the day of Saturday's game, Southampton will have spent a total of 170 days bottom of the Premier League table this term - their most in a single season - and across their last two seasons in the top flight, the Saints have spent 60% of their time in 20th spot (324 days out of 544, as of April 19).
Interim boss Simon Rusk is tasked with leading Southampton in their final six matches and restoring some pride to a side who require two more points to surpass the lowest points total in Premier League history set by Derby County (11) in 2007-08.
Southampton head to the London Stadium this weekend having won only five of their last 23 Premier League encounters with West Ham, but three of those were secured away from home, including a 3-2 success in December 2021 under former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Team News
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West Ham's Aaron Cresswell has missed the last two games with a muscle injury and remains sidelined along with Crysencio Summerville (thigh) and Michail Antonio (leg), while Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be assessed as he has been struggling with a toe issue this week.
Potter may consider switching to a four-man defence including either Wan-Bissaka - if fit - or Vladimir Coufal, as well as Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and Oliver Scarles, with Konstantinos Mavropanos therefore making way.
Edson Alvarez or Tomas Soucek could be recalled to partner ex-Southampton man James Ward-Prowse in centre-midfield, while central striker Niclas Fullkrug will be pushing to start in the final third with Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus.
As for Southampton, Albert Gronbaek and Charlie Taylor remain sidelined with respective tendon and hip injuries, while Paul Onuachu is doubtful with an ankle problem and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
However, the Saints will be boosted by the return of former West Ham man Flynn Downes, who has now served a two-match suspension and is likely to return in midfield at the expense of either Mateus Fernandes or Lesley Ugochukwu.
In-demand attacker Tyler Dibling has begun as a substitute in two of the last three games, but he could be recalled to link up with Cameron Archer and either Fernandes or Kamaldeen Sulemana in the final third.
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles; Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta; Fullkrug
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Downes, Ugochukwu, Manning; Fernandes, Dibling; Archer
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We say: West Ham United 3-1 Southampton
While Southampton are merely playing for pride, West Ham also have very little to play for, but they will be keen to climb from their current position of 17th and will be motivated by the prospect of finishing the campaign above the likes of Spurs and Man United.
Southampton have scored in six of their last seven away games and could make the net ripple again versus a Hammers side who have recently struggled on home soil, but we are backing Potter's men to outscore a Saints outfit that has conceded a league-high 77 goals this term.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
