Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Relegation-threatened Southampton welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, with the Saints hunting for their third win in four Premier League outings. Both teams lost last weekend, with Southampton being beaten 3-1 at home to Liverpool in the league. Wolves lost the FA Cup semi-final 3-2 to Watford at Wembley.
Wolves will need to improve their away form in the league if they want to get anything from this game. Nuno Spirito Santo’s side have not managed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 12 away league matches, and have not won any of their last four on the road. Their last Premier League result should give them some confidence, though, as they beat Manchester United 2-1 at Molineux a week and a half ago.
Southampton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Prediction: Saints 1-1 Wolves
Our prediction for this game is that it will end in a 1-1 draw. We suspect that Wolves may well be a little drained after their FA Cup disappointment last weekend, and will not be at their best. They are still a good side, though, and Southampton will have to work hard if they want to take a very valuable three Premier League points from the game. The Saints will be well-motivated, as Ralph Hasenhuttl has instilled some spirit and resilience in his side since taking over taking over in the hotseat in December, but will not quite manage a victory.
Our recommended tip: Draw, both score
Our featured tip for this game comes from Ladbrokes, who are offering odds of 17/5 on the game being drawn with both teams scoring. We think that this is a good bet as it matches our prediction of a 1-1 outcome for the game, while also giving you some flexibility when it comes to the game’s precise final score. The odds of 17/5 also offer some decent value, especially for astute punters who might combine it with other bets on their coupon. Both teams have shown they can score goals in recent weeks, but they are susceptible to opposition threats in defence.
Previous matches
This is just the second time in Premier League history that the Saints will host Wanderers. On the only previous occasion, at St Mary’s in 2003. James Beattie scored twice that day as the Saints won 2-0. Southampton won the reverse fixture at Molineux that season in convincing fashion, triumphing 4-1.
In this season’s earlier Premier League meeting, at Molineux in September, Wolves were 2-0 winners. The Wolves left it late to seal the victory, though, with both goals coming in the last 15 minutes of normal time. Ivan Cavaleiro scored in the 79th minute, before Jonny added a second eight minutes later.
Top 3 Premier League Bookies
Players to watch: Shane Long & Raul Jimenez
Veteran Irish striker Shane Long has emerged as a key man for Saints in recent weeks, and led the line last week against Liverpool. Playing as the main striker in a 3-4-3 formation, Long opened the scoring in the game against the Reds after just nine minutes, only for his team to lose 3-1 in the end. Long has made 20 Premier League appearances in total this season, and has scored two goals and provided one assist in those games.
Wolves have scored a total of 40 goals in the Premier League this season, and Mexican striker Raul Jimenez has been directly involved in 48% of them. He has scored 12 goals himself and provided seven assists for his team-mates. He tops both his club’s Premier League scoring table and the assists charts at Molineux. He has been an ever-present for Wolves too, playing in all 32 Premier League matches in 2018/19.
