What has gone wrong for Southampton this season? Will they avoid the drop?
The Saints finished in eighth last season, seventh in 2015/16 season and with Mauricio Pelligrino in charge, many expected a comfortable mid-table finish. However, with just five wins from 32 games, Southampton now find themselves in a relegation battle.
Southampton, who sit 18th place in the table after a 3-0 humbling in the hands of David Moyes’s West Ham, now have a season-defining seven games ahead, three of which are against the top six.
There hasn’t been a lack of goalscoring options but the club’s forward line has lacked any level of quality this season. Manolo Gabbiadini, Sofiane Boufal, James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic along with the player who has been injured for most of the season, Charlie Austin haven’t produced enough in front of goal. As well as the departure of star centre-back Virgil van Dijk, there have only been sorrows at St Mary’s this season.
Only Crystal Palace have missed more clear chances in the Premier League outside of the top six clubs this season, a stark reminder of the lack of quality in the Saints side.
They have scored just 29 goals so far, despite creating a wealth of chances. At the other end of the pitch, the Saints have conceded 47 goals already this season, one less than the 48 they conceded during the whole of last season.
The Saints have had 12 errors leading to goals, Crystal Palace the same, but only Arsenal have seen more than either of the two aforementioned sides.
With just three home wins this season and five in total, every game from now on are ‘must wins’ for Mark Hughes. They also face a difficult fixture with against Leicester, who may still fancy their chances of qualifying for Europe and a strong Bournemouth side at home, as well as a trip to Goodison Park.
Not to mention the FA Cup semi-final against Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who themselves have a point to prove.
While Southampton will be practising their finishing in training, has their policy of selling their big players to the big clubs, mostly Liverpool, cost them in the Premier League this season? Players like Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, van Dijk and Luke Shaw have all moved on to bigger and better things, something that has come back to bite the Saints.
