West Ham v Southampton predictions: Goals could come at a premium

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for West Ham v Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt 11-10 general

Team news

West Ham
Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell are likely to miss out and Michail Antonio is a doubt. Ben Johnson could be fit, though.

Southampton
Alex McCarthy is out. Adam Armstrong, Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams could all return.

Match preview

Ralph Hasenhuttl hasn't got too much right this season but one of his few successes was putting the brakes on West Ham at St Mary's and he can repeat the feat in east London.

It finished 0-0 at Southampton in September, a frustrating affair for the Hammers who had Michail Antonio sent off.

Hasenhuttl overloaded out wide to stop West Ham's flank assault and the upshot was a tame affair which saw just six efforts on target from both teams over the course of the 90 minutes.

Since then, West Ham have continued to look at home in the upper echelons, although have failed to score in their two top-flight assignments since they stunned Chelsea 3-2.

Saints, meanwhile, are without a win in six but they have drawn three of their last four.

They have won just once away in the Premier League since March – at Watford – and are in serious danger of getting sucked into relegation trouble.

The Saints look short of goals – they have only 16 to their name – and their matches are averaging a shade under 2.5 per match.

Covid issues are everywhere so it's unlikely either Hasenhuttl or David Moyes will be able to put out their strongest sides but Saints do at least come into it with 11 days' rest under their belt and the opportunity to get the likes of Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams fit.

They'll be looking to grind out a result and with the Hammers struggling to fire at the moment can play their part in a tight affair.

Key stat

Ralph Hasenhuttl has lost five and drawn two of his seven meetings with West Ham as Saints' boss.

Inside info

West Ham

Penalty taker Mark Noble/Manuel Lanzini
Free-kick wizard Said Benrahma/Manuel Lanzini
Set-piece aerial threat Craig Dawson
Card magnet Declan Rice

Southampton

Penalty taker James Ward-Prowse
Free-kick wizardJames Ward-Prowse
Set-piece aerial threatJan Bednarek
Card magnetMohammed Salisu

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