Southampton take on Swansea in the Premier League, following their Europa League victory on Thursday.
After picking up his first win as Southampton boss, Claude Puel will be hoping he can now win his first Premier League game when the Saints host Swansea on Sunday.
The Frenchman’s side beat Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night, coming out 3-0 winners thanks to a brace from Charlie Austin and a stoppage time strike from Jay Rodriguez.
With his side currently sat in the bottom three, could this be the team Puel picks to get Southampton firing in the Premier League?
One player who should keep his place following their Europa League win is Cuco Martina. The 26-year-old full back was one of the Saints’ best performers on Thursday night, and showed more than Cedric Soares has done all season.
Having been rested, Jose Fonte should come back into the side to partner Virgil Van Dijk, who was colossal against Sparta Prague. Puel will likely bring Ryan Bertrand back in at left back in place of Matt Targett, who struggled to nail down the position while the former Chelsea defender recovered from injury.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk heads clear
Against Arsenal, Puel opted for a 4-3-3 formation, but should revert back to his favoured diamond formation against Swansea, which will see Oriol Romeu at the base.
In front of the Spaniard should be the experienced Steven Davis and summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who came back into the team on Thursday, having started on the bench at the Emirates last week.
Despite an altercation with Charlie Austin over who should be taking penalties against Sparta Prague, Dusan Tadic will provide the creativity at the tip of the diamond, with the Serbian entrusted with creating the chances for Southampton’s forward line.
Southampton’s Charlie Austin and Dusan Tadic decide who will take the penalty as Virgil van Dijk intervenes
Speaking of Austin, the striker bagged his first two goals of the season, having won the battle to take the penalty and then heading home for his and Southampton’s second. These goals will have given the 27-year-old confidence and should help him start to fire in the Premier League. Alongside Austin should be Nathan Redmond, who has started every Premier League game so far, mainly as an out-and-out striker.
Southampton have a variety of options, with Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez also in contention, but Puel must go with his most confident forward to get his side goals, and that surely is Charlie Austin.
Southampton’s Nathan Redmond is fouled by Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal resulting in a yellow card
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