England Premier League
Sunday 26th December 2021
Kick off at 3pm GMT
Venue: London Stadium
Match Preview:
It is so tough when you are punching above your weight and full of confidence and on a good run and then you draw some games, don’t play as well as you should be and start dropping points and this is what West Ham are going through right now after such a bright start.
The Hammers are in 5th place but it’s just 1 win now from their last five and the signs do not look good. At the same time there have been some difficult fixtures to contend with and playing Arsenal away from home is always a difficult one for the club who rarely get a win against the Gunners. Last week they duly lost 2-0 and let Arsenal into fourth as a result. The gap is four points to Arsenal but at least West Ham have a game extra to play.
The problem for the Hammers is they have Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves in hot pursuit. In front of their home fans David Moyes team have won 50% of their games with their last one here ending in what felt like an historic win over Chelsea with that game ending 3-2. The club have gone 4 games without defeat.
Southampton are in 15th place and one feels that the players do not have much motivation at this present time. In their last four games they have lost once but drawn three of those. Last week they went to Crystal Palace and claimed a 2-2 draw, the Saints remain stubborn if nothing else but we would have to go back to the beginning of November for the clubs last win.
On the road it is just 1 win from 9 with six points won from a possible 27 which says all you need to know. The recent draw at Palace did end a 3 game losing streak though.
Team News:
West Ham: Aaron Cresswell will be assessed because of his back injury but is being tipped by some to play. Ryan Fredericks looks like a doubt with his on going muscle injury. Ben Johnson has a hamstring injury and is another doubt to make this game. Kurt Zouma is still struggling with his hamstring but could be assessed. Angelo Ogbonna is out long term with his knee injury.
Southampton: Che Adams has a hamstring injury with no specific time for his return to football. Adam Armstrong is out with a muscle injury, Stuart Armstrong has a calf injury. Fraser Forster was supposed to be back by now but could miss out again.
West Ham vs Southampton Head to Head:
Last season West Ham won this fixture 3-0.
It’s been almost 2 years since Southampton scored a goal past the Hammers.
Southampton have not beaten West Ham for 9 games and have not won when away to them since 2016.
West Ham vs Southampton Prediction:
At home Liverpool and Chelsea have been beaten here and so on paper at least one would believe this would be a straight forward game for David Moyes side. We think it will be as the Hammers will be looking to bounce back after their ‘quiet’ period. The club also have a very good record home and away to the Saints, so all of this should be motivation and the club they are chasing Arsenal should be beating Norwich, so the Hammers really need a win here.
Many would point to Michail Antonio to score in this game but that could be too obvious and to be fair Antonio is not in form. Pablo Fornals is a great price to score in this game and as a timely reminder he scored twice against the Saints the last time the clubs met here.
West Ham vs Southampton Betting Tips:
West Ham to beat Southampton at 1.72
Anytime goalscorer: Pablo Fornals at 4.00
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