Football
Southampton vs West Ham Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions (Dec 26, 2024)
SportsBoom previews the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St. Mary’s Stadium on Thursday, 26th December 2024. Excitement is already building up ahead of this anticipated Boxing day kickoff, and Premier League betting fans are already diving into the odds and assessing both teams, hoping to find the best value. For a detailed, in-depth look at the match, be sure to check out our full preview.
Jarrod Bowen with teammates//Getty Images
Southampton vs West Ham Preview
Southampton host West Ham in the Premier League on Thursday, in a Boxing day match that is crucial for both teams. The Saints have struggled mightily and are rock bottom in the EPL standings. West Ham have also had a disappointing season so far, especially considering their spending spree during the summer transfer market. The Hammers are currently on 14th place on the standings.
Both these teams have had their day in recent fixtures with no clear dominance established. In the last six meetings in all competitions, the Saints and the Hammers have won two apiece, while also registering two draws. In their most recent match up, West Ham claimed a narrow 1-0 home win.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Home 9/4 (3.24) -30.8%
Draw 13/5 (3.60) 27.8%
Away 6/5 (2.20) 45.5%
*Odds courtesy of Stake subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
Last Five Meetings (Premier League)
02/04/2023: West Ham 1-0 Southampton
16/10/2022: Southampton 1-1 West Ham
26/12/2021: West Ham 2-3 Southampton
11/9/2021: Southampton 0-0 West Ham
23/5/2021: West Ham 3-0 Southampton
Southampton Current Form – DLLLL
Southampton have simply been dismal. They seem to have resigned to playing championship football next season. The Saints have only won once in 16 premier league appearances with the other positive results being three draws. They are currently rooted at the bottom of the standings with 5 points.
Last time out they were whopped 5-0 at home by Tottenham Hotspur which resulted in the sack of manager Russell Martin. They have conceded 36 goals while scoring a league-low 11.
During their midweek EFL cup quarterfinal loss against Liverpool, they were second best to a second string Liverpool side much to the distain of their fans. On Sunday, they managed a nil-nil away against Fulham.
Their last meeting against West Ham saw them lose narrowly 1-0. Their last success in this fixture was back in 2021, when they overcame hosts West Ham 3-2 in an entertaining game.
Key Players to Watch
- Adam Armstrong: Goals haven’t been easy to come by for Southampton’s striker but he still remains the main goal threat for the Saints. Armstrong will need to find the back of the net if Southampton are to have a chance of escaping the relegation zone.
- Taylor Hardwood-Bellis: Taylor has been a revelation despite being part of a leaky defense. The young English center back already got an England call up earlier in the season and will be crucial if Soton are to beat the drop.
- Mateus Fernandes: Mateus Fernandes provides the creative spark from midfield. Things have not gone quite to plan for the Portuguese since his arrival in the summer. However, under new management fans can expect the 20-year-old to finally fulfill his potential.
Southampton Team News
Southampton captain Jack Stephens will be back after serving a four- match ban after accumulating his second red card of the season. Gavin Bazunu is still out with an Achilles tendon injury, left back Juan Larios is expected to be out till next year. Ross Stewart and William Smallbone are also absent for this match.
West Ham Current Form – DDWLL
When the season began, many expected West Ham be among the contenders for European football, especially after a couple of exciting seasons that saw then claim the European Conference League trophy and playing in the Europa League last season.
They spent heavily during the summer transfer market. However, results have been discouraging for the Hammer’s faithful. They currently sit on 14th place in the EPL standings.
The last five matches have seen them claim wins over Newcastle United and Wolver Hampton Wanders, while also suffer defeats against Arsenal and Leicester City. Bournemouth’s Enes Unal’s wonderful free kick in the 90th minute denied the Hammers the three points last week, resulting in a draw at the Vitality Stadium. On Saturday, the Hammers came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw against visiting Brighton.
The Hammers will be buoyed to put the Saints to the sword and continue their ascent up the standings.
Key Players to Watch
- Mohammed Kudus: Mohammed Kudus has been one of the standout performers for the Hammers this season. Kudus attacking impetus will be crucial against the Saints, especially with attacking midfielder Lucas Paquetá missing the match as a result of suspension.
- Jarrod Bowen: Jarrod Bowen has been instrumental to West Ham’s success over the last couple of seasons. Bowen creative acumen has made him among the top performers among his position in the league. The English international has seen team success regress but his ability will be a thorn against a Southampton side struggling for survival.
- Niclas Füllkrug: Niclas Füllkrug has found goals had to come by in the English topflight division. Füllkrug hasn’t had a consistent run of games in the side as a result of injuries and competition. However, with Michaill Antonio an absentee for an extended period of time, he will have to build up is form and a struggling Southampton may be the best opponent for Füllkrug to finally rediscover his scoring touch.
West Ham Team News
Michaill Antonio will be missing until may with a broken foot while Lucas Paquetá will miss the match due to suspension.
Predicted Line-Ups
Southampton 3-4-1-2
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Sugawara, Downes, Aribo, Walker-Peters; Fernandes; Amstrong, Dibling
West Ham 4-2-3-1
Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus, Summerville; Füllkrug
Suggested Bets
For football betting lovers; here are our suggested bets.
An Away Win for West Ham United: The Hammers, currently sitting in 14th place with 19 points, have shown more consistency and their recent form has been stronger compared to Southampton. Moreover, their attacking power gives them the edge. (6/5 with Stake) (117/100 with BC.Game)
Both Teams to Score- Yes: Both teams have been scoring goals lately, and with Southampton's struggles in defense, this is a reasonable bet. (14/25 with Stake) (27/50 with BC.Game)
Total Over/Under - Over 2.5 Goals: In their last ten matches across all competitions, Southampton had over 2.5 goals in five of them, averaging 0.9 goals scored per game during this stretch. West Ham, on the other hand, saw over 2.5 goals in six of their last ten games, averaging 1.2 goals scored per match. (13/20 with Stake) (13/20 with BC.Game).
Value Bets
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) - Anytime Goalscorer: Bowen’s form, playing position, and role in West Ham’s attack make him a solid bet to score anytime in this match. If you're looking for a reliable option with good value, Bowen presents an opportunity to capitalize on his recent performances and Southampton’s defensive weaknesses. (9/5 with Stake) (7/5 with Sportsbet.io).
Half-Time/Full-Time: West Ham/West Ham: This bet predicts that West Ham will be leading at both half-time and full-time. Given their recent strong performances and Southampton's tendency to concede, this bet provides good value, especially if you think West Ham will dominate early and maintain that lead throughout the match. (11/5 with Stake) (12/5 with Sportsbet.io).
West Ham United total: Over 2.5 goals: Betting on West Ham to score over 1.5 goals is a strong value bet, especially when considering Southampton's defensive struggles, West Ham’s attacking quality, and recent form. West Ham has shown they can score multiple goals, and given Southampton's weak defense, this bet is highly likely to pay out if West Ham controls the match. (89/100 with Stake) (9/10 with Sportsbet.io).
Southampton vs West Ham Prediction: West Ham Win
West Ham is the stronger team here, and Southampton's defensive issues combined with their lack of attacking threat make it likely that West Ham will secure a comfortable victory. Moreover, West Ham has shown more promise, with a recent record of two draws and one win in their last three matches. They have been consistent in scoring, finding the back of the net in each of their last five fixtures.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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