The Saints travel to the London Stadium on Sunday.
Southampton manager Claude Puel has told the Mirror that his side must avoid focusing too much on the threat posed by Dimitri Payet when they travel to West Ham United on Sunday.
The Hammers host the Saints at the London Stadium this weekend on the back of scraping through their EFL Cup tie with League Two Accrington Stanley.
The game looked to be petering out into extra-time until Payet stepped up to a free-kick in the sixth minute of injury time to curl a sublime effort into the top corner and send his side through.
After that game, Stanley boss John Coleman suggested that a free-kick in a dangerous position is as good as a penalty for West Ham because of Payet’s ability from a set-piece.
However, Puel has insisted that although Payet’s talent cannot be doubted, his side must not allow themselves to become too narrowly focused on stopping the midfielder.
The Saints boss told the Mirror: “It [a Pyet free-kick] would be a good opportunity for them and of course defending is important, but we must also concentrate on all the many good things we do on the pitch.
“He is a very good player on the free-kicks, but our players also have many qualities and it will be difficult for West Ham to defend these players.
“It is important to keep in our minds all of the good things we can make on the pitch and not just to stay in close with the opponent, [but] to give a good answer against all of the team, with a good concentration.”
Neither club have started the season particularly well, with only one win apiece from their respective five opening fixtures.
Southampton are currently two points ahead of the Hammers courtesy of two draws, whilst West Ham have lost all but one of their games.
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