Can Southampton avoid the Premier League lowest points tally?
Southampton bounced back from Premier League relegation in 2023, returning to the top-flight at the first attempt after winning the Championship play-offs as they defeated Leeds at Wembley, last May.
Although this season has been a struggle, with just over 10 games to play, the Saints sit rock-bottom, 13 points from safety, winning just twice all season, boasting the division’s worst attack and defence.
Nine points all season emphasises the difficulty this season has been for Southampton. Only two more points would see Southampton avoid the unwanted record Derby set in the 2007/08 season, earning just 11 points from 38 matches.
Difficult games upcoming
The start of this run of games is a trip to Anfield to play the league leaders, Liverpool, at a ground the Saints last won at back in 2013; Dejan Lovren, who played for both clubs being the hero that day. However, in November’s encounter Southampton did take the lead, eventually losing 3-2.
Southampton still have to play Wolves and Leicester before the end of the season, but they still have to face Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
All hoping to have something to play for at the end of the season, with aspirations of retaining European football. Also taking on in-form Everton, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
30 points are up for grabs, how many points can Southampton pick up?
Finding the goalscoring touch
Ivan Juric’s side have scored just 19 goals in the Premier League this season, picking up only one league victory out of his 10 games so far, coming against Ipswich in February.
Their top scorer is Joe Aribo with just three goals, while only five players have scored more than one, three of them are strikers, Adam Armstrong (now on loan at West Brom), Paul Onuachu and Cameron Archer.
One of the bright sparks of the Saints’ season is the breakthrough of Tyler Dibling, who has put in some good performances for the league’s bottom side, scoring four goals in competition; he had a short spell in Chelsea’s youth team setup.
With relegation probable, Southampton need to find the net more often to have a positive ending to a disappointing season, only managing to score at least twice in a single game on three occasions.
Shutting out the opposition
Two. That is the number of clean sheets Southampton have this season, coming in games against Everton and Fulham.
Over the course of the season, Alex McCarthy (5), Joe Lumley (3) and Aaron Ramsdale (19), all three of the club’s senior goalkeepers have appeared in the league, with Ramsdale in between the sticks for both of their shutouts for the season.
15 of their 27 league games have seen Southampton concede more than three goals, their joint heaviest defeats coming against Spurs and Brentford, losing both 5-0 at St Mary’s.
Southampton are a long way off the Premier League’s most goals conceded in a season record (Sheffield United 2023/24 - 104), but defensive solidity is paramount to survival.
It is unlikely this scenario will happen as Southampton should pick up points somewhere in these last 10 games.