Southampton will be keen to get back to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend as they take the trip to Watford.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s men are currently situated in 17th place on the table and are in desperate need of points. Although the Hornets have not been in inspiring form of late, they remain a dangerous proposition and could damage Saints.
Southampton have not won a game in the Premier League since late November but were able to secure a narrow victory in the FA Cup last weekend. James Ward-Prowse’s first-half strike away at Fulham helped Saints gain their passage through to the fourth round. Incidentally, they will welcome Watford in the next stage of the competition.
Pellegrino is certainly under pressure to deliver now, with Saints in a pivotal stage of the season. He’ll hope that he can help the team to only their fifth win of the campaign in the top flight.
Without further ado, take a look at how we expect Saints to line up at Vicarage Road.
Alex McCarthy
McCarthy has started Saints’ last three and has been largely faultless. He should get the nod.
Jack Stephens
Stephens is set to start at right-back. Jeremy Pied and Cedric Soares are back in training but their fitness levels are unknown at this stage, so Pellegrino is likely to play it safe.
Maya Yoshida
Yoshida is in line to keep his place in central defence.
Wesley Hoedt
Hoedt is set to return having recovered from concussion.
Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand is poised to retain his place at left-back.
Oriol Romeu
Romeu is a mainstay in the side and is likely to continue.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Hojbjerg has been exceptional of late and it’d be a shock if he was dropped.
James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse has featured a lot recently and that’s likely to continue.
Dusan Tadic
Tadic is set to return to the side and play in the hole, or as Pellegrino likes to use him, in central defensive midfield.
Sofiane Boufal
Boufal has been Saints’ brightest spark recently and, again, it’d be criminal to drop him.
Shane Long
Pellegrino evidently doesn’t feel Manolo Gabbiadini is the man to lead the line, so it’s likely he’ll use Long up top.