By Alex Roberts
Last Friday at the AMEX, Cameron Archer had his goal chalked off after teammate Adam Armstrong was deemed to have influenced play while in an offside position. Not only did it rob Russell Martin’s side of a valuable three points, but a Southampton win would also have impacted the gap between Chelsea and Brighton at the top end of the table.
As it was, Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa on Sunday was arguably their best performance of the season so far, with star man Cole Palmer once again stealing the show, keeping his side within touching distance of Liverpool, despite Enzo Maresca’s insistence that the Blues are not in the title race.
How much longer can Russell Martin last?
With just five points from their opening 13 Premier League games, the writing is already starting to appear on the wall for Southampton. Much like Burnley last season, Martin’s insistence on sticking with the style that got them promoted has seen them struggle in the top-flight.
Not only are they leaking goals, but the Saints also hold the worst attacking record in the league, scoring just 10 goals – underperforming their xG by 4.40 – despite creating more big chances than Everton, Leicester City, and Wolves.
Something drastic is going to have to happen for Southampton to stay in the Premier League come the end of the season. If results keep going this way, Martin is either going to get sacked or, like Vincent Kompany, somehow end up as the next boss of Bayern Munich!
Nicolas Jackson… You are for reeeeal
Whisper it quietly, but Nicolas Jackson is very good at football. Eleven goal contributions so far this season has him in the league’s top five, behind Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, and Erling Haaland.
Jackson has cemented his status as a forward with elite potential, building on everything that made his game special last season and adding a newfound ability to finish his chances. Yes, there have been some glaring misses, notably one against Brighton, but he is overperforming his xG + xA by 3.40.
Calls for Maresca to start Christopher Nkunku over Jackson have now died down. The Senegal international has put a marker down as Chelsea’s best striker.
Tyler Dibling will be missed
Reminiscent of Jack Grealish before Pep Guardiola got his hands on him, with the long hair and low socks, 18-year-old Dibling is having a break-out season at Southampton, impressing against Brighton and running the show against Liverpool.
Versatile enough to play anywhere from central midfield to right-wing, Martin has primarily deployed him in the centre of the park, bagging his first and only Premier League goal in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich.
However, he is suspended for this fixture, as are Flynn Downes, their goalscorer at Brighton, and centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. All three have impressed so far this season and their absence will no doubt be giving Martin some selection headaches.
Prediction
Nothing in football is ever a foregone conclusion but it’s hard to look beyond Chelsea for this one. Southampton gave Liverpool a good game and were unlucky against Brighton, but we’re gonna go with 2-0 to Chelsea.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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