Southampton vs Ipswich Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 English Premier League
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Two promoted sides lock horns at St Mary's Stadium with both Southampton and Ipswich hunting for their first Premier League win of the season.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 21st September, 2024: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Peacock Premium
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Peacock digital channels
SOUTHAMPTON PREVIEW: LONG SEASON AHEAD
Southampton have unsurprisingly found it tough going since their return to the Premier League, with the south coast side without a single point to their name after the opening four games.
The Saints were comfortably beaten by Man Utd at home last weekend, but they did manage to progress in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, beating Everton - the only other Premier League side to remain pointless at this stage - on penalties.
IPSWICH PREVIEW: STEADY IMPROVEMENT
After losing their first two league games since returning to the top flight, Ipswich have now drawn their last two games and looked particularly well-organised in their goalless draw at Brighton last Saturday.
The Blues did the double over Southampton in the Championship last season, winning 0-1 at St. Mary's Stadium before a 3-2 victory on home turf in April.
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS: STEPEHENS SUSPENDED
Jack Stephens is serving a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Man Utd, and that could see Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who scored in midweek EFL Cup action, slot in at centre-back.
Will Smallbone has missed the last couple of games with a hamstring issue and remains a doubt for the weekend, while Gavin Bazunu and Kalmadeen Sulemana are definitely out. In terms of team selection, Russell Martin made ten changes midweek but is likely to revert back to something similar to the side that faced Man Utd.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): McCarthy; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Ugochukwu, Downes; Dibling, Fernandes, Brereton Diaz; Archer
UNAVAILABLE: Bazunu (Injured), Stephens (Suspended), Sulemana (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Smallbone (Injured)
IPSWICH TEAM NEWS: RECOUPING PLAYERS
Kieran McKenna is on the verge of recouping a couple of players after injury as Harry Clarke and Nathan Broadhead are back in training, with the latter deemed likelier to feature in Saturday's squad.
Janoi Donacien, who picked up an injury on international duty, is not available for selection while the club seek to establish his future.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Muric; Tuanzebe, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
UNAVAILABLE: Donacien (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: H. Clarke (Fitness), Broadhead (Fitness)
SOUTHAMPTON VS IPSWICH PREDICTION
It feels a little early to be talking about a relegation battle, but this is undoubtedly a fixture that both teams will be targeting for points.
When comparing their respective starts to the campaign, it's clear that Ipswich have looked a little more assured than the Saints, and possess greater attacking threat through the likes of Liam Delap and recent signing Sammie Szmodics. Ipswich won both encounters with Southampton in the Championship last season, and they could be worth considering in the draw no bet market here.
SOUTHAMPTON VS IPSWICH TIP: IPSWICH DRAW NO BET
