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Tag: Southampton

  • EPL: Southampton hold Man City to 0-0 draw

    EPL: Southampton hold Man City to 0-0 draw

    Relegated Southampton shut out lifeless Manchester City to move past the Premier League record low mark of 11 points with a goalless draw at St Mary’s.

    This season’s Saints are now up to 12 points to ensure Derby County’s record low from the 2007-08 season remains intact for at least another year.

    City could have moved level on points with second-placed Arsenal with a win but served up a dismal attacking display a week before their FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

    They stay in third place but the dropped points on the south coast could prove costly in a tight race for a top-five finish and a place in the Champions League next season.

    Read Also: EPL: De Bruyne gives Man City win against Wolves to move third

    Erling Haaland returned from injury but offered little as Pep Guardiola’s side were content to play at walking pace against an admittedly packed Southampton defence, and looked devoid of ideas for most of the game.

    Defender Manuel Akanji headed wide from a corner and Bernardo Silva saw a shot hacked off the line by Saints captain Jack Stephens.

    Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was only called into serious action inside the last few minutes, clawing away a header from Ruben Dias before Omar Marmoush rattled the crossbar from long range.

    But there were cheers from the stoic home crowd at the whistle as the hosts held on for just a third clean sheet all season.

  • EPL: Liverpool come from behind to beat Southampton 3-1

    EPL: Liverpool come from behind to beat Southampton 3-1

    Mohamed Salah scored two penalties as Liverpool came from behind to beat rock-bottom Southampton for the second time this season and move 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

    The Reds were miles below their best after their energy-draining late win at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday – but all that matters at this stage of the season is results.

    This takes them one step closer to the title and leaves Saints still in danger of the lowest Premier League points total ever.

    The visitors allowed themselves to dream when Will Smallbone took advantage of a huge mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot in from a tight angle.

    But Reds boss Arne Slot made a triple substitution at half-time and Liverpool were much improved.

    Darwin Nunez, perhaps fortunate not to be one of the ones replaced at the break, slotted in from Luis Diaz’s cutback.

    Read Also: Liverpool tipped to clinch title at Anfield May 10

    And then the Uruguayan striker was fouled by Smallbone for a penalty, which Mohamed Salah predictably dispatched with style.

    Liverpool fans started singing “now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league” after that.

    Salah also netted another spot-kick late on, for his 27th goal of the season, after the video assistant referee spotted a Yukinari Sugawara handball.

    Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand – including Sunday’s match with Manchester United – but it is impossible to see anyone overhauling Liverpool.

    Both sides made six substitutes as Southampton lost captain Jan Bednarek to an early head injury – with football laws allowed the opposing team to also make an extra substitution during the game.

    BBC

  • EPL: Isak scores twice as Newcastle sink Southampton

    EPL: Isak scores twice as Newcastle sink Southampton

    Alexander Isak scored twice as Newcastle came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary’s Stadium.

    The Magpies were 1-0 down after Jan Bednarek’s early header but, after Isak won and converted a penalty, the Sweden striker netted a second just four minutes later with a curled finish.

    Isak’s quickfire double invigorated Eddie Howe’s team and, after half-time, Sandro Tonali added a third to put the result beyond doubt.

    Newcastle are now back in the Premier League’s top four, before Chelsea’s game against Manchester City later on Saturday, while Southampton remain rooted the the foot of the table.

    Howe said that his side were fatigued in last week’s 4-1 home defeat by Bournemouth and the Magpies started sluggishly at St Mary’s.

    Bednarek rose high to head James Bree’s cross beyond Martin Dubravka, rewarding Ivan Juric’s team for a positive start.

    But after the visitors were awarded a penalty for Joe Aribo’s foul on Isak, the in-form forward converted from the spot to restore parity.

    Isak nonchalantly finished from Jacob Murphy’s pinpoint pass moments later, as Howe’s side seized control.

    Tonali netted early on in the second half, as the Magpies dominated, with Murphy striking the post and Isak being denied a hat-trick by Alex McCarthy – in goal for Southampton with Aaron Ramsdale injured.

    Matheus Fernandes looked to have set up a grandstand finish with a late strike but it was ruled out for offside, as Newcastle took all three points back to Tyneside.

    BBC

  • EPL: Manchester City beat Southampton to go top of table

    EPL: Manchester City beat Southampton to go top of table

    Manchester City went back to the top of the Premier League as Erling Haaland’s early effort proved enough to beat struggling Southampton.

    When Haaland shrugged off Jan Bednarek to turn Matheus Nunes’ fifth-minute cross beyond Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale for his 11th league goal of the season, the visitors seemed set for a heavy defeat.

    But a combination of their own dogged defending and some poor finishing from City, with Haaland the chief culprit, ensured a few home nerves before the final whistle.

    The result extended City’s unbeaten Premier League record to 32 games. They are now only six weeks away from going a full 12 months since their last defeat, by Aston Villa on 6 December.

    Read Also: EPL: Kovacic scores twice as Manchester City beat Fulham

    Although they deserve credit for the way they battled, the result did nothing to help Southampton’s problems towards the foot of the table.

    Russell Martin’s men still only have a single point to their name almost a quarter of the way through the campaign.

    They can take solace from the knowledge that the only previous time they failed to win any of their first nine games, in 1998-99, they stayed up, but Martin needs to hope Southampton’s owners show him some patience as he looks to change the club’s fortunes following their return to the top flight.

  • EPL: Leicester comeback to beat Southampton 3-2 at St Mary’s Stadium

    EPL: Leicester comeback to beat Southampton 3-2 at St Mary’s Stadium

    Leicester City staged a stunning comeback from two goals down as Jordan Ayew’s stoppage-time winner gave them a dramatic victory against Southampton in a Premier League thriller at St Mary’s Stadium.

    The Foxes looked down and out, feeling the wrath of their travelling supporters as goals from Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo gave the Saints a thoroughly deserved half-time advantage inside 28 minutes.

    Archer steered home a simple finish from Ryan Manning’s left-wing cross after eight minutes, before Aribo applied a similar strike as Kyle Walker-Peters sent in the delivery.

    Read Also: EPL: Brighton beat Newcastle 1-0 at St James’ Park

    Southampton were dominant but Leicester showed great resilience and were inspired by a brilliant individual display from substitute Abdul Fatawu after he was introduced on the hour.

    He had already started to pose a threat even before Facundo Buonanotte turned in his cross from close range, signalling a sensational Leicester revival.

    Fatawu had turned the game on its head and he was a central figure again when Leicester drew level 16 minutes from time, first shooting against the bar, then forcing a fine save from Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a header seconds later.

    In the resulting melee, Ryan Fraser dragged back Jamie Vardy as he tried to pounce on the rebound, the veteran striker scoring the resulting penalty with the Saints substitute shown a red card.

    And, in a frantic finale, Ayew delighted Leicester fans and left the home support to turn on their team with that strike seven minutes into stoppage time.

    BBC Sports

  • Aribo returns to EPL with Southampton

    Aribo returns to EPL with Southampton

    Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo will play in the Premier League next season after Southampton beat Leeds United in a promotion playoff final.

    Southampton won 1-0 in what is regarded as the richest football match at Wembley.

    Aribo played from start to finish.

    After no-show at the beginning of the season, Aribo went on to score four goals in 38 appearances in the English Championship.

    At Wembley, Southampton broke the deadlock in the 23rd  minute. A brilliant series of stringed passes before William Smallbone’s pass slipped through to Adam Armstrong who buried the shot into the bottom corner of Ilian Meslier’s goal.

    Read Also: Southampton PUT £15 million pounds tag on Onuachu

    Joe Aribo set up England-born Nigeria-eligible winger, Samuel Edozie in the 67th  minute with a brilliant through-ball, but the 21-year-old curled the ball way too wide.

    Leeds came closest to levelling the score with seven minutes left on the clock. Former Manchester United winger, Daniel James, rattled the crossbar with a volley but the Saints held on.

    The final whistle was met with cheers from the Southampton supporters after their manager’s biggest dream came through.

    “I feel emotional and overwhelmed by the love and support I’ve had over the past year. I’m so pleased for and proud of the team. I’ve enjoyed watching the team and players grow,”  coach Russell Martin told Sky Sports Football.

    Aribo was not selected by Finidi George as a part of the Super Eagles team to tackle South Africa and Benin Republic for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

  • Arsenal’ll recover quickly after Southampton loss – Iwobi

    Arsenal attacker, Alex Iwobi has declared that the Gunners will work hard to recover fast from their 2-3 loss to Southampton, as he believes they can go on another unbeaten run.

    Footballlive.ng reports that Iwobi admitted it was disappointing seeing the Gunners’ long run in all competitions ended by The Saints, with a 3-2 scoreline on Sunday, but the Super Eagles’ star insists his team will dust themselves up very quickly and try to go on another run, as they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup tomorrow

    Charlie Austin’s late goal ensured Ralph Hasenhuttl picked up a crucial first win as Saints’ boss.

    Iwobi admitted Arsenal lacked concentration against Southampton and lamented his side’s lacklustre performance.

    Iwobi: “Southampton deserves credit. They had a game plan and they stuck to it, but it’s disappointing by us. We weren’t focused through the 90 minutes. There were spells where we didn’t defend well as a team.

    “We’re frustrated the unbeaten run is over. We had chances to win the game. But we should give ourselves some credit for going on the run. Now we have to keep going and try to go on another run.”

  • Ralph Hasenhuttl steps in at Southampton till 2021

     

    Southampton have confirmed Ralph Hasenhuttl as their new manager on a two-and-a-half year deal.

    The former RB Leipzig boss replaces Mark Hughes, who was sacked on Monday with Saints 18th in the table.

    Hasenhuttl will officially take charge on Thursday but will watch Wednesday night’s game at Tottenham from the Wembley stands.

    The Austrian will work alongside current first team assistant coach Kelvin Davis, head of goalkeeping Dave Watson, and head of sports science Alek Gross.

    Hasenhuttl guided newly-promoted RB Leipzig to second place in the Bundesliga in the 2016-17 season, before leaving the club in May this year after a dispute over a new contract.

    The 51-year-old becomes Southampton’s fourth manager in just two years, with Claude Puel and Mauricio Pellegrino having also been sacked since Ronald Koeman left for Everton in 2016.

    Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger said: “The urgency to find a path back to our potential and to the results that we expect cannot be underestimated.

    “For that reason, we are extremely pleased that Ralph Hasenhuttl has agreed to become our new manager and do all he can to help guide us back on that path.

    “This managerial change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate.

    “As a coach, he embodies the passion, structure, communication skill set, work ethic and appetite for growth that we strive for in our Southampton Way.

    “The quick, smooth and seamless negotiation process underlines the character of the person that he is.

    “As soon as we met, Ralph’s enthusiasm for football was contagious and his hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident.

    “In our discussions, he very quickly aligned himself with the values and the vision of the club.

    “Southampton Football Club’s past success was built on a clear identity. The foundation of this identity was a focus on developing players, whether from within our academy or after joining from other clubs.

    “Ralph’s ability to teach the game and to develop talent is evident in his past and is a centrepiece of why he is the perfect choice to be the new Saints manager. Hasenhuttl’s first game in charge will be at Cardiff on Saturday.

     

  • Liverpool’s Van Dijk faces fitness test ahead of Chelsea clash

    Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk faces a fitness test ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Chelsea, although fellow defender Dejan Lovren is available, manager Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday.

    Van Dijk sustained a knock to an earlier rib injury and was substituted in the second half of Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.

    It was a result that left the early Premier League pace-setters with six wins from as many games.

    “He is much better. It’s still a bit painful, nothing else,” Klopp told reporters ahead of the League Cup third round clash at Anfield.

    “We will see how we deal with that. It’s not too serious, but it’s not anything, so that needs to settle for sure.

    “We will see how he is today and make a decision about him.”

    If Van Dijk is ruled out, the experienced Lovren could fill in, as the Croatian had shaken off a pelvic injury.

    Read Also: Van Dijk ready to spur Liverpool to silverware

    The 29-year-old has not played this season after aggravating an earlier pelvic injury during Croatia’s World Cup final march in Russia in July.

    “Dejan looks quite good. He trained completely normal now four times. He worked with the fitness guys before that for 10 days. He looks ready,”Klopp added.

    Klopp said first choice goalkeeper Alisson would be rested with Simon Mignolet taking his place.

    The German, however, said he would field a strong side against Maurizio Sarri’s team.

    “It’s a difficult draw for both teams. It’s not that you think the first two-three rounds you go through somehow, and from the semis on it starts getting exciting…

    “It’s a home game against a very strong side, so it’ll be really interesting.”

    Liverpool returns to Premier League action on Saturday, when they face Chelsea for the second time this week, away at Stamford Bridge.

  • Nigerian-born Uty Pius to storm Southampton with gospel concert

    The second event in the One Voice Concert series  is set to  hold in Victory Centre, Portswood Road, Southampton, United Kingdom come September 29, 2018.

    This time, it promises to be bigger and more colourful featuring a wider variety of gospel music, art and performers.

    And fresh from releasing her single, ‘Let the People Say Amen’, UK-based Nigerian gospel singer and convener of the One Voice Concert project, Uty Pius, will also be dropping her EP ‘Exceeding Grace’ at the event.

    Other artistes that would be performing at the concert include London-based worship leader and guitarist, Jeph Levi, British-Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and physiotherapist Tosin Oyelakin and Anointed Mark, another UK based Nigerian gospel minister, producer and songwriter.

    Also featuring are Charles Olay, a saxophonist, multi-instrumental musician and multi-discipline professional based in Liverpool, Afrodynamix, an African-Caribbean mainly student dance group coming in from the University of Southampton; Prince Promise, Southcoast Brass, Martyn Thomas the trumpeter and rapper Krystak K.

    The One Voice concert series is Pius’ divinely inspired project to unite the ‘Body of Christ’.

    “It is an initiative that seeks to bring worshipers from every background, every persuasion together to fellowship in an atmosphere of worship.”