Southampton welcome Leeds United to St Mary's on Tuesday, as both sides look to build on back-to-back Premier League victories.
The hosts picked up a 3-1 win over already-relegated Fulham on Saturday, while Leeds thrashed Burnley 4-0 away from home to maintain their position in the top half of the Premier League table going into the final two games of the season.
Match preview
Having previously gone five games without a victory in all competitions, Southampton come into this game with some form thanks to consecutive 3-1 wins at St Mary's.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's men broke that winless run with a victory at home to Crystal Palace, as a Danny Ings brace and a Che Adams goal overturned an early one-goal deficit with the help of a Fraser Forster penalty save on the stroke of half time.
The Saints then followed that up with a 3-1 win at home to a relegated Fulham side, as Adams again got on the scoresheet alongside Nathan Tella, while Theo Walcott restored their two-goal lead late on after Fabio Carvalho pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 75th minute.
That meant that Hasenhuttl's men have now won three and drawn one of their last four Premier League games at St Mary's, with only seven sides in the league topping the 27 points that they have picked up on home turf this season.
With six points left to play for, the Saints have the chance to rise as high as 12th spot in the table having previously slipped worryingly close to the bottom three, and they will be hopeful of finishing the season in style to improve on their current 14th position.
They take on a Leeds United side who can move up to ninth spot with a victory on Tuesday.
Marcelo Bielsa's side picked up a dominant victory last time out, as they travelled to Turf Moor to take on Burnley.
Mateusz Klich opened the scoring on the stroke of half time and Jack Harrison would double their lead on the hour mark, before Rodrigo came off the bench to bag a late brace, sealing an eye-catching win for the West Yorkshire outfit.
That followed an impressive 3-1 victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur, as Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo put the Peacock's two goals ahead after Son Heung-min cancelled out Stuart Dallas's early opener.
As a result, Bielsa's side have taken their tally to an impressive 53 points from 36 games in their first top-flight campaign since 2004.
That is largely down to their strong run of form, having picked up 18 points from a possible 27 in the last nine league matches, including an eye-catching win over champions Manchester City and commendable draws with last season's champions Liverpool as well as second-placed Manchester United and fourth-placed Chelsea.
With just one defeat from those nine matches, the Elland Road side will hope to carry their strong form into the final two games of the season as they aim to finish as high as possible in their first season back in the top flight.
- L
- L
- D
- L
- W
- W
- L
- L
- D
- L
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- L
- W
- W
Team News
Southampton will remain without midfielder William Smallbone and left-back Ryan Bertrand through injury, the latter of whom recently confirmed that he will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
They should be joined on the sidelines by centre-back Jan Bednarek, who was absent from the squad for the Fulham match after he was forced off through injury in then victory over Crystal Palace.
Centre-midfielder Oriol Romeu will also remain out of action with an ankle injury, leaving James Ward-Prowse and Stuart Armstrong to occupy the midfield.
Winger Nathan Tella put forward his claim for a starting spot with a goal off the bench last time out, and he will hope to come into the side with Nathan Redmond on the opposite flank.
After a busy schedule of two games in four days following his return from injury, forward Danny Ings could be due a rest for Tuesday's game, but Hasenhuttl might potentially risk his talisman for the last two matches given Ings's importance to the side.
Leeds United's only notable absentee could be winger Helder Costa, who has missed the last three matches with a back injury that will rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Attacker Rodrigo has given Bielsa a tough decision to make coming into Tuesday's game, having scored three goals in his last two substitute appearances.
Meanwhile, the line will be led by Patrick Bamford, who has netted 15 goals alongside eight assists in 32 Premier League appearances this season.
He should be supported by the wide threat of Raphinha, while Stuart Dallas has also caused plenty of problems going forward, netting eight league goals having mostly played in a wing-back role.
At the other end of the pitch, the back three of Pascal Struijk, Diego Llorente and Luke Ayling impressed against Burnley, keeping club captain Liam Cooper out of the side.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Forster; Walker-Peters, Stephens, Vestergaard, Salisu; Tella, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Redmond; Adams, Ings
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk; Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Alioski; Harrison, Bamford, Raphinha
We say: Southampton 1-3 Leeds United
Both sides come into this game in positive runs of form, but we see the visitors having too much for Southampton on Tuesday, particularly given their form in front of goal.
The Peacocks have netted seven goals in the last two games and definitely have the tools to hurt the Saints, while their defence has also looked improved recently, seeing them to a strong finish in the Premier League.
Top tip
Video prediction
Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:
body check tags ::
Previews by email
