Newcastle embark on one of the Premier League’s longest away trips this afternoon when they trek south to St. Mary’s Stadium to play Southampton, though a victory over the Saints would make it a worthwhile jaunt. The Magpies are unbeaten in eight league assignments and their record of two wins from their last three encounters with Southampton suggests their purple patch should continue today.
Below, you can find our info-jammed stats pack for the game which should give you the inside track on things like shots, shots on target, xG, cards, corners and more from the teams’ domestic campaigns so far. Hopefully, our data and my Stats Pack Guide can give you an edge over the bookmakers when putting your bet builders for the game together later.
And remember, if you’re placing a bet builder for the first time, you can get your money back in cash if it loses on Betfair.
Predicted Lineups
Southampton are missing two key defenders this afternoon with Armel Bella-Kotchap and Kyle Walker-Peters both sidelined with injuries. Tino Livramento is also absent, while Stuart Armstrong is rated as a slight doubt.
Romeo Lavia played some reserve team football in midweek and the midfielder should be fit enough to rejoin the matchday squad today.
Emil Krafth, Alexander Isak, Karl Darlow, Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett are in the treatment room for Newcastle, while Brazilian midfielder Joelinton is suspended following an accumulation of bookings.
Fabian Schar has a slight hamstring issue that renders him doubtful and Jamal Lascelles could start at centre-half alongside Sven Botman if the Swiss defender doesn’t make the cut.
Team Stats
Finding a regular route to goal has been difficult for Southampton this season and only two clubs have been clocking fewer goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League (0.85).
The Saints also rank sixth-last for shots mustered p/90 (11.40) and only four other outfits have been hitting fewer attempts on target (3.38 p/90) than shot-shy Southampton.
Ralph Hasenhüttl’s charges slipped into the relegation zone last week, though they did take points off Chelsea, West Ham and Arsenal in three of their last four home matches.
Newcastle dazzled in their 4-0 victory over Aston Villa last weekend and their convincing display against the Villains helped to add even more gloss to their already excellent stats for the campaign.
The highflying Magpies have been scoring 1.85 goals per 90, which makes them the Premier League’s fourth-most prolific team. They also rank fourth for shots (15.30) and second for xG (1.97) per 90. Interestingly, only Liverpool have won more corners than Newcastle since the summer.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Southampton’s armoury is a little light on firepower, though Che Adams is generally their most reliable marksman, in terms of shots at least, in the Premier League. The Scottish international has been hitting 2.37 shots per 90 in the division this term and Adams accounted for five of the Saints’ 14 attempts against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Joe Aribo has lodged at least one attempt in each of his last three appearances while winger Mohamed Elyounoussi managed to let loose with at least one shot in ten of his 12 Premier League runouts so far.
Callum Wilson (3.22 shots p/90) has been deadly for Newcastle this season and quite a chunk of the Magpies’ top-four hopes rest on the striker maintaining his fitness. The 30-year-old racked up another five shots against Aston Villa last weekend.
Miguel Almiron (2.82 shots p/90) lodged three attempts in that win over the Villains and the red-hot Paraguayan should provide plenty of penetration again today.
Player Goals and Assists
Che Adams tops the goal-scoring charts at Southampton, though the 26-year-old is in the midst of a lengthy lean spell and has scored just once in his last ten appearances in the Premier League.
The Saints have notched just four times in their last eight matches, with Adams, defender Romain Perraud, Joe Aribo and Stuart Armstrong all chipping in with one effort each. Armstrong also netted for Southampton when they lost 2-1 to Newcastle at St. Mary’s Stadium in March.
Miguel Almiron’s second-half strike against Aston Villa last weekend pushed to the top of the scorers’ list for Newcastle ahead of Callum Wilson and the 28-year-old has already smashed his best-ever haul for a single Premier League campaign (four in 19/20 & 20/21). In your face Jack Grealish.
Wilson bagged a brace against the Villains a week ago, while Joelinton broke his duck for the season. Five different Magpies players have provided two assists, while Kieran Trippier ranks first at the club by a distance for average key passes played per game (2.4).
Southampton Cards
Mohamed Salisu (three cards) is the archetypal front-foot defender though his eagerness to win the ball early can sometimes lead to him making awkward looking challenges.
The centre-half is a prime card candidate again today and to his left, Romain Perraud should also be on your radar, even if he doesn’t quite make it onto our list of least-disciplined Saints. The 25-year-old will be tasked with shackling a supremely confident Miguel Almiron today.
In midfield, James Ward-Prowse should provide plenty of bite again. The 28-year-old has already been carded twice this term and the Saints skipper won’t shy away from any skirmishes this afternoon.
Bruno Guimaraes (fouled 3.11 times p/90) has been fouled more often than any other Newcastle player in the Premier League this term and the Brazilian could be on the end of some more heavy challenges if James Ward-Prowse can zero in on him.
Further forward, Miguel Almiron (fouled 0.83 times p/90) and Callum Wilson (0.90) have the power, pace and intelligence to make life uncomfortable for Perraud and Salisu in the Saints’ backline.
Match-Ups to watch
Mohamed Salisu vs Callum Wilson
Romain Perraud vs Miguel Almiron
James Ward-Prowse vs Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle Cards
With card magnet Joelinton suspended today, Newcastle’s best caution contenders are found in defence this afternoon, where Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Kieran Tripper could all be worth tracking.
Schar has already been carded four times in 12 Premier League appearances this term, while Dan Burn (1.12 fouls p/90) and Kieran Tripper have been booked twice. Southampton should favour a counter-attacking approach today and that could force the Magpies’ defenders into some awkward one-on-one situations.
Che Adams (fouled 1.09 times p/90) and Stuart Armstrong (1.27) rank as two of Southampton’s most-kicked attackers since the summer and their duels with Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier respectively could draw intervention from referee Stuart Atwell (3.37 cards per game).
Mohamed Elyounoussi hasn’t been fouled quite as often as his teammates (0.60 per game), though the Norwegian winger has the speed to pull Dan Burn into some troublesome scenarios at St. Mary’s Stadium, especially if the Saints star can isolate the 6’6″ left-back.
Match-Ups to watch
Fabian Schar vs Che Adams
Dan Burn vs Mohamed Elyounoussi
Kieran Tripper vs Stuart Armstrong
