Match Pack: Spurs vs Saints

THE MATCH

Spurs vs Saints
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Saturday 6th August, 3pm BST

THE OFFICIALS

Referee: Andre Marriner.
Assistants: Simon Long, Richard West.
Fourth official: Tim Robinson.
VAR: Paul Tierney.
Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

With a fresh season comes fresh opportunities and with the slate wiped clean, both sides will be relishing the chance to make their mark on the league.

Spurs finished the 2021/22 season on a high, qualifying for the Champions League by just pipping their local rivals Arsenal to fourth place in the league standings.

It was a different story for Saints, who had a turbulent end to the season, finishing 15th and just five points above the drop, a position they’ll be looking to improve on this time round.

It’s been a successful transfer window for both sides, with Spurs making six major signings including former Saint Fraser Forster. Ivan Perišić, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and Djed Spence have also signed contracts for the North London outfit, while Clément Lenglet has joined on loan from Barcelona.

Hasenhüttl has also made a number of encouraging signings in this period, with Gavin Bazunu and Mateusz Lis providing options in goal. Roméo Lavia, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Sékou Mara and Joe Aribo have also made their move to the south coast.

After an extensive and promising pre-season, including victory over AS Monaco at St Mary’s, Saints will be keen to replicate that form in league competition.

TEAM NEWS

Oliver Skipp is set to miss out for the hosts, while Richarlison is also unable to feature as he serves a one-match suspension.

Tino Livramento remains Saints’ only long-term absentee, while Theo Walcott and Nathan Tella have also been ruled out of Saturday’s clash.

THE MANAGERS

Antonio Conte: “We want to try and start in the best possible way.”

Ralph Hasenhüttl: “There’s nothing older than success from yesterday, so you have to do it again. We have to show again we can compete, we will have to have a nearly perfect game to get something there.”

ONES TO WATCH

Son Heung-Min: Joint Premier League top goal scorer with Liverpool’s Mo Salah last season, the Spurs star poses an undeniable threat in front of goal and will look to build on his remarkable success in 2021/22.

Joe Aribo: One of Hasenhüttl’s summer signings, the Nigerian midfielder opened his Saints account with a stunning solo goal against Villarreal during pre-season, something which he’ll hope to replicate in what could be his debut Premier League outing.

TOP PERFORMERS

2021/22 statistics inclusive of all competitions

Spurs:

Goals:

Harry Kane 25
Son Heung-Min 24
Lucas Moura 6

Assists:   

Harry Kane 10
Son, Moura, Kulusevski 8
Højbjerg, Doherty, Bentancur 4

Southampton:

Goals: 

James Ward-Prowse 11
Armando Broja 9
Elyounoussi, Adams 8

Assists:

James Ward-Prowse 8
Nathan Redmond 6
Elyounoussi, Walker-Peters 4

HEAD TO HEAD

Played: 201
Saints: 65
Draws: 51
Spurs: 85

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

February 2022: Spurs 2-3 Saints (Broja, Elyounoussi, Adams)
December 2021: Saints 1-1 Spurs (Ward-Prowse)
April 2021: Spurs 2-1 Saints (Ings)
September 2020: Saints 2-5 Spurs (Ings)
February 2020: Spurs 3-2 Saints (Long, Ings)

DID YOU KNOW?

- Southampton have won two of their last three away league games in London (L1), as many as they had in their previous 19 in the capital (D6 L11). One of those two victories was at Spurs, with Southampton last winning consecutive league visits to the Lilywhites in January 1971.

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