This game will be the last of 2015 for us, with a very exciting year looming, but first, lets end this year on a positive note.
We go into this game looking at a streak of eight winless games, which has subsequently dropped us down to 10th in the league table.
Southampton, on the other hand, put in a tremendous effort to beat Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day, so they will go into this one full of confidence.
However, before that emphatic win against Arsenal, they hadn’t won for over a month, so they too have been struggling to get results. Southampton put a massive shift against Arsenal and they had to work extremely hard for the entirety of the match, so hopefully that plays to our advantage and their fatigue shows.
As for our team news, Cresswell looks to be doubtful, but Carroll should be back in the squad. Lanzini could make the bench, but that is very unlikely, with Tomkins also likely to miss out.
The rest are still out, with Jelavic and Payet edging close to a return to the side. Our injuries are costing us dearly at the moment, and our lack of firepower has to be down to this.
However, we have to grind out results and stay up there with the rest challenging for top eight, and when the likes of Payet and Lanzini do return, they will be fresh and rearing to go for a strong finish to the season, which will be very exciting to watch and be a part of.
As for how we can look to win this game, we have to be stronger than them in midfield. Against Aston Villa we were second best in the centre of the park to every challenge. We will also have to keep a close eye on Shane Long, who scored twice against Arsenal and threatened all game.
As for how we will line-up, with a severe injury crisis, this is what we could potentially do…
I feel like Hendrie could get given his debut for us with Cresswell being injured as I do not feel like Slaven will change the system we are playing.
Jenkinson should come in for the injured Tomkins, however I could be wrong with our middle three, with potentially Reece Oxford coming into the starting line up due to fatigue.
It is not going to be an easy game, considering how things are going for us at the moment, but if we stay organised, keep possession of the ball and create the space ourselves through clever movement, then we definitely have a great chance of beating the Saints and getting our first win for nine games.
As for my prediction, I think we will win 3-1, with Valencia, Kouyate and Antonio netting the goals.
An optimistic score line, I know, but we have to get back to our winning ways at some stage!
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