England Premier League
Friday 25th February 2022
Kick off at 8pm GMT
Venue: St Mary's Stadium
Match Preview:
Southampton and Norwich will kick start this weekend’s football in the Premier League and the clear favourite to win this game will be the home side.
The Saints are in good form and have gone their last four games unbeaten. They haven’t lost a game for almost six weeks and their last match ended in a 2-0 win over Everton. It’s been a good period for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side and while a quick glance at the league would suggest that the Saints still face an uphill battle to finish in a European position, all is not lost if they keep up this good form. The club are in 10th place with 32 points but are about 10 points from that desired position, but one would believe that even a top half finish this season would be deemed good for the club.
The majority of Southampton’s points this season have come at home where they have obtained 19 of 32 points. The club have only lost one game at home but the majority of their results here has ended in draws with seven so far from 12 games.
Norwich are bottom of the league and are 5 points from safety though with their poor goal difference that is six points. They also have no games in hand over their direct rivals but would have been happy to have seen Watford losing in midweek. Victory in this game would only move the club up to 19th but they would also put pressure on 18th placed Burnley. A loss here could be rather fatal if Newcastle and Everton win at the weekend so the Canaries are under a lot of pressure ahead of the game.
Form has not been good for the club who have gone their last 3 games without a win and that includes losing their last two in a row which has come against the two best sides in the league in Manchester City and Liverpool. For that Norwich can’t be blamed too much but they need to start winning games now.
Away from home Norwich have lost 8 games from 12 played and have collected 8 points from a possible 36. With only seven goals scored on the road they have netted the least amount of any club in the league when on the road.
Team News:
Southampton: Romain Perraud is ill but could be assessed, Nathan Redmond has recovered from a recent ankle injury and is back in training and will be assessed ahead of this game. Alex McCarthy is still missing with his hamstring, Nathan Tella remains a doubt and is only 50/50 to come back and Lyanco could be out until May with a hamstring injury.
Norwich: Tim Krul won’t return for another 3 weeks at least with his on going shoulder injury. Lukas Rupp is only 50/50 to return from his recent hamstring injury but could be assessed. Jacob Sorensen has recovered quickly from his knee injury but for now remains touch and go for this game. Adam Idah has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Southampton vs Norwich Head to Head:
The last time the clubs played here was in 2019 and Southampton won 2-1.
Earlier in the season in the reverse fixture Norwich beat Southampton 2-1.
Norwich haven’t beaten Southampton away from home since 2008.
Four of the last five fixtures has seen over 2.5 goals.
Southampton vs Norwich Prediction:
Up until they had to play Manchester City and Liverpool, Norwich had found some form and nobody can blame the Canaries for losing those games. Let’s remember too that Dean Smith’s side gave Liverpool a scare and took the lead before eventually losing that one. Norwich are fighters when it matters plus they will come into this game knowing they have to get something after witnessing a fellow bottom three side Burnley beating Tottenham.
Southampton have been solid and are very difficult to beat at home and have a very good record over Norwich. They will be the favourites and we will back them to win but that doesn’t mean this will be easy going for the club and we should see a tight game. What has been so impressive with the home side though is their goals are spread out and a plethora of players can find the net, the market on this is very good value and open so we will back this also.
Southampton vs Norwich Betting Tips:
Asian handicap (-1 Southampton) at 1.93
Anytime goalscorer: Che Adams at 2.25
Anytime goalscorer: Armando Broja at 2.25
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