Southampton 2021-22 Premier League Preview
Top ten for Hasenhuttl’s men?
Southampton started last season in fine fashion, even topping the Premier League table at one point. However, a woeful run of results almost put them in a relegation scrap in the end. The Saints went on to finish in 15th with 43 points to their name.
Having already signed the likes of Theo Walcott and Romain Perraud, Ralph Hasenhuttl will be hoping to add more new faces to his squad before the window slams shut. Will the Saints have a successful season in the Premier League? Check out our in-depth betting preview.
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Table of Contents
- 1 2020-21 Review: Saints top in November
- 2 2021-22 Fixtures: Saints travel to Goodison on opening weekend
- 3 Southampton Transfer News: Who will join Theo at St Mary’s?
- 4 Who Are the Saints’ Biggest Challengers: Can they sneak into the top ten?
- 5 Leeds United Preview: Whites to kick on under Marcelo?
- 6 Everton Preview: Will Rafa make an instant impact?
- 7 West Ham United Preview: Hammers to build on last season’s success?
- 8 Aston Villa Preview: Can the Villans cause more surprises?
- 9 Saints players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Will Adams be Southampton’s main man?
- 10 Our Southampton Predictions: Saints to finish in the top half
2020-21 Review: Saints top in November
Southampton kicked off their 2020-21 Premier League season with back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur. After the heavy home defeat to Spurs on matchday two, something clicked at St Mary’s, as Hasenhuttl’s men went on an impressive seven-game undefeated run in the league.
During that seven-match run, the Saints beat Burnley, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United, and drew with Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Goals from Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong gave Southampton a 2-0 home win over Newcastle on 6th November, which fired the club to the top of the Premier League table for the first time ever. They lost just two more games in the remainder of 2020.
After a stunning win over champions Liverpool to open up 2021, Southampton found themselves sitting pretty in sixth. However, that was about as good as it got for the Saints, as the club from Hampshire went on to lose the next six. In what was one of the worst runs in their history, Southampton picked up just one win from 12, suffering ten defeats along the away, including a 9-0 hammering at Old Trafford.
Southampton were dragged into a relegation battle but survived comfortably in the end. Hasenhuttl’s troops won 12, lost 19 and drew seven to end with 43 points to their name, 16 points clear of safety.
2021-22 Fixtures: Saints travel to Goodison on opening weekend
Southampton kick off their 2021-22 Premier League season with a trip to Goodison Park to play Everton. The Toffees have recently appointed former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, and it will be a tough test in Merseyside. On matchday two, the Saints entertain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United, who finished runners-up last term.
Southampton start 2022 with a home matchup against Newcastle on New Year’s Day. They then play Wolves, Man City, Tottenham, Man United and Everton in successive fixtures. Southampton’s last home game will be against Liverpool on 15th May before ending their campaign with a trip to the King Power Stadium a week later.
Southampton Key Facts
- Southampton topped the Premier League for the first time ever last season
- The Saints were FA Cup winners back in 1976 and have been runners-up three times (1900, 1902 & 2003)
- Southampton reached the League Cup final in 2017, narrowly losing to Man United
- The Hampshire club suffered a 9-0 loss to Man United back in February
Southampton Transfer News: Who will join Theo at St Mary’s?
Theo Walcott arrived at Southampton as a youth prospect in 2000. After breaking on to the scene at St Mary’s five years later, Theo went on to have a prosperous career at Arsenal, racking up almost 50 caps for England in the process. After a successful loan spell at St Mary’s last term, Southampton have made his move permanent.
Earlier this month, the club completed a deal for French defender Romain Perraud, who arrived from Brest for an undisclosed fee. The former France U21 international played over 50 Ligue 1 games for Brest since making a move from Nice in 2019.
In the other direction, Ryan Bertrand, Josh Sims and Kayne Ramsey have departed. Angus Gunn has also left to re-join his boyhood club Norwich City, singing a four-year deal at Carrow Road. A few more could leave before the season begins.
Danny Ings has been linked with several clubs this summer, including Tottenham, Man City and Man United. The ex-Liverpool man had an excellent season for the Saints last time around, scoring 12 Premier League goals. The club’s best bit of business this summer could be keeping hold of the 28-year-old.
Who Are the Saints’ Biggest Challengers: Can they sneak into the top ten?
In the early months of last season, Southampton looked like genuine European contenders. However, they lost their way at the midway point and ended up finishing just three places above the drop zone. At the very least, Hasenhuttl will want his side to push for a top-ten finish this season, even though several clubs will have the same idea. Who will be Southampton’s biggest rivals this season?
Leeds United Preview: Whites to kick on under Marcelo?
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds were one of the surprise packages in the Premier League last season. After winning the 2019-20 EFL Championship title, United were back in the big time for the first time since 2004. They started well and never looked back.
Leeds finished just three points away from European football last season. They have a real togetherness in the team and no lack of talent. The Yorkshire side will no doubt be pushing for a top-six finish this year.
Everton Preview: Will Rafa make an instant impact?
The appointment of Rafa Benitez as the new Everton manager was one of the shocks of the summer so far. The 61-year-old guided Liverpool to UEFA Champions League success during his six-year spell at Anfield. As you can imagine, Benitez’s move to Goodison Park was greeted with mixed emotions among the Toffees supporters.
It is all about what happens on the field, though, and Carlo Ancelotti, who left for Real Madrid, built some solid foundations at Goodison. Everton have European hopes before every Premier League campaign, and this season under Benitez will be no different.
West Ham United Preview: Hammers to build on last season’s success?
David Moyes’ West Ham United had a remarkable 2020-21 season. The Hammers flirted with the Champions League places for a large chunk of the campaign. Despite missing out on the top four in the end, West Ham finished in sixth and sealed a spot in the UEFA Europa League.
With some new signings, United are more than capable of building on last season’s success. However, now UEFA Euro 2020 is done and dusted, keeping star man Declan Rice is a must. Rice has been sensational for the Irons since breaking on to the scene in Stratford, but the likes of Chelsea, Man United and Man City are all reportedly keeping tabs on the England international.
Aston Villa Preview: Can the Villans cause more surprises?
Aston Villa were another surprise package in the Premier League last term. Dean Smith’s troops survived by the skin of their teeth the season before, but they opened up their 2020-21 season with four straight wins, including a 7-2 mauling of Liverpool.
They had an up and down middle part to their season, though Villa finished with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Villa Park. The Midlands outfit took 11th spot, collecting 55 points in the process. Smith’s boys will be hoping to break into the top half this time.
Saints players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Will Adams be Southampton’s main man?
With rumours of Ings moving on getting louder, Che Adams might have to be the Saints’ main man this season. The Scotland international took time to settle in at St Mary’s after his move from Championship side Birmingham City. He has never been prolific at Southampton, but Adams did score some important goals last term.
After netting in wins over Crystal Palace and Fulham at the end of the campaign, Adams was called up for Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad. The 25-year-old impressed in the tournament, putting in a solid display against England in a 0-0 draw at Wembley Stadium on 18th June.
Our Southampton Predictions: Saints to finish in the top half
Southampton had an extremely topsy-turvy season last time around. They topped the Premier League for the first time in their history but also went on one of their worst PL runs. The Saints also suffered a humiliating 9-0 defeat for a second season in a row.
Like several clubs, Southampton would love to break into the European places this season, and the chase for the Europa League could be wide open. However, we think a top-ten finish is a more realistic scenario for the Hampshire club. You can get the decent odds of 9/4 for Southampton to finish in the top half of the 2021-22 Premier League.
