After a bumpy start to the season, Saints come into gameweek three with plenty of optimism. After positive news around the club regarding new deals and signings, there is a sense of revitalisation around the club.
In this article I will be delving deeper into the opposition’s set-up before their game against us to look in to just what team we’re playing against and what we can expect from this weekend’s fixture against Sunderland.
Several key factors will be in play when Saints take on David Moyes’ men, so I have taken a look at just how we’ve got on in previous times against The Black Cats and I have analysed a wide range of stats and figures from our last meetings.
After Sunderland’s poor start to the season, this simply has to be a first win of the season for Claude Puel’s men. If otherwise, questions will start to be asked – rightly or wrongly.
Star Player
There is no doubt in my mind as to who the star player is and this has probably been the easiest pick of the season for star player so far.
Jermain Defoe is by far Sunderland’s best player – the heart and soul of the team – and without him, Sunderland would find themselves in even further danger.
The former Portsmouth man scored on the south Coast last season in this fixture and will be looking to repeat the feat; Virgil van Dijk will certainly have his hands full.
Manager
After Sam Allardyce’s recent move to become the England manager this summer, Sunderland had to replace quickly before the season started with this man; David Moyes.
After his sacking from Manchester United, the Scotsman is looking to kick start his career once again and has chosen Sunderland as a model for his next antics, as he will look to replicate what he did at Everton for so many years.
Prior results
Sunderland have started the season with a hard fought loss away at Man City and a poor defeat at home to local rivals Middlesbrough.
They played Shrewsbury Twon midweek in the EFL Cup and just managed to scrape a 1-0 victory through Adnan Januzaj’s late winner – a result which won’t exactly give Moyes’ men bucket fulls of confidence.
Current news and injury updates
Current news for Sunderland includes that they have completed the capture of former Liverpool man Javier Manquillo on a season long loan, solving their right-back troubles.
However, Sunderland’s injuries are a key problem for them at the moment and they continue to mount up. As they say: it doesn’t rain, it pours.
Sunderland currently have the joint top most injuries in the league right now with West Ham and they include Lee Cattermole (hernia), Jan Kirchhoff (hamstring), Billy Jones (hip), Sebastian Larsson (medial ligament), John O’Shea (groin), Vito Mannone (elbow).
Fabio Borini, Lamine Kone, Steven Pienaar and Jeremain Lens all have slight knocks but all are expected to be available for selection, at least, against Southampton.
The history
Saints have only beaten Sunderland twice in the last 10 years – the famous 8-0 result at home two seasons ago and last year’s 0-1 away win thanks to Dusan Tadic’s penalty.
The Saints will be looking to improve on this poor record against The Black Cats on Saturday with a solid victory to kick start their season.
Predicted XI
13. Jordan Pickford
4. Javier Manquillo
23. Lamine Kone
5. Papy Djilobodji
3. Patrick van Aanholt
8. Jack Rodwell
44. Adnan Januzaj
46. Lynden Gooch
20. Steven Pienaar
18. Jermain Defoe
9. Fabio Borini
My Prediction
Not quite the whitewash it was two years ago, but I’m going for a solid victory to Saints. 3-0 for me.