Big Match Breakdown: Southampton v Brighton
Odds, tips and preview for Premier League clash
Monday Night Football serves up a southern treat tonight as Southampton host Brighton & Hove Albion.
Both sides have picked up four points in league action so far, with Southampton sitting 13th, just ahead of Brighton on goal difference. A win for either side would see them climb into the top-half.
You can catch the game on Sky Sports Football at 8:00pm. Here’s all the key pre-match info from the Coral News Team…
Head-to-Head
These teams have already met this season in the Carabao Cup. A late Charlie Austin goal secured a 1-0 win for Saints, though both teams were heavily rotated.
The two league meetings last term both finished 1-1, with Glenn Murray netting for Brighton in both.
Likely XIs
If Austin can shake off a knock, he’s likely to start up front alongside Danny Ings for the home side. Other than that, Mark Hughes won’t want to change too much from the side that beat Crystal Palace 2-0 last time out.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton will hope Pascal Gross passes a fitness test on an ankle injury. The playmaker will line up in the hole behind Murray if he does.
Anthony Knockaert’s early-season form means club-record signing Alireza Jahanbakhsh will have to wait for his first Premier League start.
Key Battles
Danny Ings has made an impressive start to his time at St Mary’s with two goals already. He looks ready to make up for lost time after so long without regular playing time.
Ings and Austin could cause real problems for the visitors. The Saints duo have the makings of a good partnership, with Ings’ clever movement and Austin’s physical presence.
If Gross isn’t fit, Brighton could struggle to get their attacking game going. Their best bet may be to try and get Solly March and Anthony Knockaert in down the flanks.
Match Odds
Saints have only won five home games since last January, but they’re 21/20 to get the points here.
Brighton haven’t picked up a point or scored a goal on the road in the league yet this term. They’re out at 3/1.
The draw is going for 9/4, while it’s 5/1 for a third-successive 1-1 draw in league action between these two.
Austin and Ings are both 4/1 to open the scoring and 13/8 to get a goal at any point.
Brighton will be hoping Murray can score against Southampton for the third league game running. He’s 21/10 to do just that.
Click here for the latest Southampton v Brighton odds.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
