Southampton will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
The Saints were somewhat lacklustre in their last outing at West Ham as they suffered a 3-1 defeat in the capital.
That defeat has left some fans looking over their shoulders at the potential of being dragged back into the relegation battle, which makes this weekend’s game against Newcastle even more important.
However, a victory at St Mary’s would make it back-to-back home wins for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side after a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa a fortnight ago.
Saturday’s visitors have struggled for both points and goals over recent weeks having failed to score in their last four league matches.
This has meant that Steve Bruce’s side are also nervously looking behind them with the gap between them and the relegation zone just five points, although an away win would move them above the Saints.
However, the Magpies did progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Tuesday evening with a 3-2 victory at West Brom.
Hasenhuttl revealed in his pre-match press conference that Stuart Armstrong is out with concussion, Will Smallbone is ill so is also set to miss Saturday, while Moussa Djenepo has returned to training following the loss of his mother.
Here’s how we predict the side to line up:
GK: Alex McCarthy
The previous game at the London Stadium proved to be one to forget for McCarthy.
However, we predict him to keep his place in between the sticks.
RB: Kyle Walker-Peters
Walker-Peters was forced to watch on from the bench at West Ham with James Ward-Prowse preferred at right-back.
We predict the January signing to come in for his second start since joining to allow Ward-Prowse to move back to his more natural position.
CB: Jack Stephens
Newcastle have scored the fewest amount of goals in the Premier League this season having netted just 24 times.
That shouldn’t mean the Saints defenders become complacent and the defence, led by Stephens, will see this as a great opportunity for a clean sheet.
CB: Jan Bednarek
Bednarek has often struggled against the more robust strikers this season and could face another one in Joelinton on Saturday.
However, his lack of goal threat for the Magpies should result in an opportunity for Bednarek to put that particular trend to bed.
LB: Ryan Bertrand
While Bertrand’s game going forward remains an impressive aspect of his game, his defensive cover could do with a bit of work.
Especially in this back-four that requires the players to help each other out to prevent gaps from appearing; he could be key to getting a result against Newcastle’s pacey wingers.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
The game against Newcastle will be another one against a team that tends to sit deep.
Those are the type of matches that Hojbjerg often struggles in with his composure on the ball an area of improvement for the midfielder, we predict him to be given the chance to do that on Saturday.
CM: James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse has had to do with playing as a make-shift right-back over recent matches with the opportunity for him to influence proceedings limited.
The return of Walker-Peters is likely to allow the 25-year-old to move back into the middle of the park, especially with Smallbone’s absence.
RW: Moussa Djenepo
Djenepo missed last weekend following the passing of his mother.
He has returned to training this week and with both Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong sidelined, Saints are left with few other choices in this position.
LW: Sofiane Boufal
Boufal seemed to struggle against West Ham but the absences of Redmond and Armstrong is likely to give him another chance.
ST: Shane Long
Long missed being partnered with Ings last Saturday.
Both of the strikers’ qualities allow the other one to do what they do best to the greatest affect, we predict him to continue to start.
ST: Danny Ings
The Saints missed Ings from the off against West Ham and if fully fit, we feel as if he must come back into the side.