Prediction: Southampton vs West Ham

Verdict: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Bet365

Looking to carry on what is becoming quite the transformation under Ralph Hasenhüttl, Southampton will welcome West Ham to St. Mary’s on Thursday night.

Southampton

Starting with the hosts, after partying ways with Mark Hughes last month and bringing in Ralph Hasenhüttl, few on the south coast would have expected Southampton’s resurge. Coming off the back of a 3-1 win over Huddersfield last weekend and also ending Arsenal’s 22-match unbeaten run with a 3-2 win in the German’s first game in charge, the Saints have managed to claw their way out of the relegation zone. While they have now managed to pick up back to back wins for the first time this season, their are still a string of defensive issues that Hasenhüttl must improve on. Southampton have now failed to record a clean sheet in their last eight Premier League matches, they also hold the fourth worst defensive record in the top-flight. If they are to continue building a buffer over the bottom three, then the former RB Leipzig boss will be needing Liverpool loanee Danny Ings to carry on what is becoming a very impressive run of form. Once again finding the net at the John Smith Stadium on Saturday, the 26-year-old now has four in his last four for Thursday’s hosts.

Team News

Southampton are without suspended midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who picked up a fifth booking of the season in the win over Huddersfield.

Teenage forward Michael Obafemi is set to make just a second Premier League start after scoring last weekend.

West Ham

As for the visitors, after slumping to a 2-0 loss at home to Watford on Saturday, a result that ended their four-match winning run, Manuel Pellegrini will be demanding an immediate response from the Hammers. While their defeat to the Hornets may have seen them slip out of the top half of the table, West Ham have now lost just two of their last nine league matches and another three points on Thursday could see the east London side climb as high as eighth. Already seven points better off than they were at this point last season, they should also be boosted by their recent record away from the London Stadium. The visitors are unbeaten in their last four matches on the road, winning their last two on the bounce. If Pellegrini’s side are to mount another push up the table, they could be looking for Javier Hernandez to lead from the front. Although the Mexican international missed a string of chances last weekend, the 30-year-old has scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances.

Team News

West Ham have several injury doubts, with Fabian Balbuena and Javier Hernandez facing fitness tests.

Marko Arnautovic remains out with a muscular injury, but Andy Carroll could make a first start in nearly a year.

Key Factors to Consider

• Southampton won the corresponding fixture last season 3-2, thanks to an injury-time penalty winner from Charlie Austin.
• Saints have only lost one of their previous nine home league games against West Ham (W4, D4).
• West Ham have lost just two of their last nine league matches (W5, D2).
• Southampton striker Danny Ings now has four goals in his last four games.
• Combined, both West Ham and Southampton have recorded two clean sheets in their last 12 Premier League matches.

Conclusion

On paper, this has all the makings of a game that should produce plenty of chances at both ends. While both sides are enjoying a terrific run of form in the final third, both have an abundance of defensive issues. Given both sides have recorded just one clean sheet in their last 12 combined Premier League matches, we’re backing both teams to find the net and over 2.5 goals in what could be a lively encounter on the south coast.

Verdict: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Bet365