Tottenham begins their 2022/23 Premier League season by welcoming Southampton at their stadium to collect the first three points of the season.
Spurs finally secured Champions League football after an absence of three seasons securing the fourth spot over rivals Arsenal on the final day of last season. The Saints had an up and down campaign ultimately sitting in 15th place on the league table five points clear of relegation.
TOT vs SOU Match Details
Date: Saturday, 6th August 2022
Time: 15:00 (BST)/ 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, Tottenham
TOT vs SOU Match Preview
Antonio Conte’s men produced a remarkable end-of-season form in winning four of the last five games of the season to seal the berth for the Champions League football two points ahead of Arsenal and two points shy of Chelsea in third too. Considering the Blues spent much of their time last season unmoved from that position, it was a remarkable job for Spurs to close the gap to that extent when everything looked bleak just a few months away. Although it was both of their rival’s down form at the crucial part of the season that gave them leverage, Spurs deserve credit for the strong finish. They have built on their last season’s success by splashing the cash in the market. Record arrival of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic on a free has made them top four favourites again. Tottenham are now wishing to collect major silverware since 2008 but the Premier League title is a far-reaching prize for this club just now knowing the strength of Liverpool and Manchester City from the rest of the league. The day won’t be far off if they build a proper project at the club now with a world-class manager at the helm. For now, they have to focus on a strong start to the 2022/23 season with Chelsea to face in a London derby next week. Opening day customer Southampton are a tricky side to face as nobody knows which team will turn up on the occasion. Spurs are optimistic to have the season opener at home in front of packed home support which will give them the boost to secure the early three points of the campaign. The preseason for them has not been convincing, two hard-fought wins coupled with a draw and a loss. However, those results serve no indication of the team’s feasibility in a competitive environment.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men have developed a pattern of switching between their best to worst level unable to stay stable throughout the season. Southampton finished 15th the same position as the 2020/21 campaign and has never finished above 11th in the table since claiming the eighth spot in a sensational campaign in 2016/17 offering them qualifiers to the Europa League. Since Hasenhuttl took charge back in December of 2018, the Saints finished 11th in addition to the last two campaigns. The Austrian will be hoping to better the standings in the new season with a group of talented signings made this summer. Among them was the purchase of the Scottish league winner and Europa League finalist in the last season Joe Aribo from Rangers. The Nigerian is expected to give an edge to the Saint’s attack by providing the service to Che Adams and Adam Armstrong, also popping up with necessary goals himself. How he adjusts to the intensity of the Premier League is left to see. The Saints are under the new ownership of billionaire Dragan Solak who has helped to make these talent purchases in the window to continue and even better the scouting business at the club. The Expectation is now for Hasenhuttl to use these signings to their best level and possibly aim for a top-half finish. The preseason has not been the one wished for with only one win to show. They also face a tough trip to Spurs to open the campaign with Manchester United and Chelsea also to face within the first five games of the season. So, Southampton needs to jell with the new signings quickly.
Pre-season Form
TOT: LWDW
SOU: LWDDL
TOT vs SOU Team News
Antonio Conte has revealed that midfielder Oliver Skipp won’t be available suffering a foot fracture in the pre-season. He could be out at least for two or three games before he can return to action. Tests are also pending on Yves Bissouma’s physical condition to be sure of his availability for the season opener. Conte said he doesn’t want to risk the new signing to hand his official debut straightaway with the last training required before the game to evaluate him but it is nothing serious. Another arrival, Richarlison won’t be available on Saturday serving a one-match suspension imposed by FA for throwing a flare onto the stands in the win over Chelsea in May this year when he was at Everton. The rest of the squad is available to the Italian to select his first eleven of the season.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed that Nathan Tella and Theo Walcott won’t be available for the first game of the season. The former Arsenal player has not participated in the preseason for an injury and is not back for training either. The same case is for Tella although he was in training only this Friday for the first time so won’t be fit for this weekend clash. Four of the six new signings are set to make their official debut in the season opener. Signed from Manchester City, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and midfielder Romeo Lavia will get the chance with Armel from Bochum at the back and the headliner transfer from Rangers, Joe Aribo in the attack. 20-year-old Sekou Mara will be seeking an opportunity to impact from the bench after arriving from Bordeaux as Che Adams continues to lead the line for the Saints.
TOT vs SOU Predicted lineups
TOT: Hugo Lloris; Christian Romero, Eric Dier, Ben Davies; Emerson Royal, Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ivan Perisic; Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane, Son
SOU: Gabin Bazunu; Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek, Salisu; Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia, Romain Perraud; Joe Aribo, Stuart Armstrong; Che Adams
TOT vs SOU Head to head
The Saints beat Spurs in a 3-2 thriller in the last game at Tottenham Stadium in February last season. Antonio Conte’s side took the lead through Jan Bednarek putting the ball into his own net. However, Southampton responded with then Chelsea loanee Armando Broja levelling up proceedings before Son again restored the lead for the home side in the 70th minute. Then everything imploded in the last ten minutes of the game with James Ward Prowse pulling out two perfect crosses for Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams to nod it past Hugo Lloris, in the span of three minutes, to seal the win for the Saints. Steven Bergwijn, now at Ajax, thought he brought the game to all square at the death only to be declared offside by VAR.
TOT vs SOU Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Lloris (9)
DEF: Romero (8.5), Dier (9), Salisu (8.5)
MID: Armstrong (9), Ward-Prowse (10), Hojbjerg (9), Perisic (8.5)
FW: Aribo (9), Kane (9.5), Son (10)
