Southampton 2022-23 Premier League Preview
Can the Saints sneak into top half?
Bookmaker Paddy Power
Southampton Top-half Odds: 9/2 odds taken 1605 GMT, Saturday 25 June
Southampton were one of the most unpredictable teams in the Premier League last season. They took points off the big boys but went on a run of just one win from their last 12 matches. On their day, the Saints are capable of beating anyone in the Premier League.
Southampton finished down in 15th last term but were in no real danger of going down. Ralph Hasenhuttl will be aiming even higher this season, but can the Hampshire club break into the top half of the table?
In our in-depth Southampton 2022-23 Premier League season preview, we take a look at the potential signings and give you our predicted finish with the best odds and tips. We will also be looking back on the 2021-22 campaign.
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Table of Contents
- 1 2021-22 Review: Saints finish in 15th
- 2 Saints Transfer News: Any incomings at St Mary’s?
- 3 2022-23 Key Fixtures: Saints start at Spurs
- 4 Who Are Southampton’s Biggest Challengers: Mid-table for the Saints?
- 5 Crystal Palace Preview: Can the Eagles break into top half?
- 6 Leeds United Preview: Whites to stay away from trouble under Marsch?
- 7 West Ham United Preview: Europe again for the Hammers?
- 8 Leicester City Preview: Foxes to improve this time around?
- 9 Newcastle United Preview: Can the Magpies to seal a top-six finish?
- 10 Aston Villa Preview: Big season ahead for Gerrard?
- 11 Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview: Top half again for Lage’s men?
- 12 Players to Watch Out For in the 2022-23 Season: Ward-Prowse & Adams to stand out?
- 13 Our Southampton Predictions: Saints to secure top-half finish
2021-22 Review: Saints finish in 15th
Southampton made a poor start to their 2021-22 season, failing to win any of their opening seven Premier League matches. The Saints drew four and lost three before picking up their first three points against Leeds United in mid-October. That started a much-needed run of three wins and a draw from four.
Southampton then went on another long winless run, this time drawing three of losing three of six. Hasenhuttl’s side responded well, winning five, drawing four and losing just one of ten. However, their campaign ended with a worrying dip in form, as the Hampshire club picked up only one win from their final 12 fixtures, suffering nine defeats in the process – that kind of summed up their season.
Southampton went on to finish in 15th for the second year in a row. Still, considering that they looked like relegation fodder at one point, they did well to finish five points clear of the drop zone in the end. Overall, Southampton won nine, drew 13 and lost 16, ending with a -24 goal difference.
Southampton Key Facts
- Southampton have finished 15th two years running
- The Saints picked up just one win from their last 12 fixtures last season
- Only three clubs conceded more in England’s top tier last term
- Southampton were First Division runners-up back in the 1983-84 campaign
Saints Transfer News: Any incomings at St Mary’s?
St Mary’s has been a busy place in terms of incomings and outgoings already this summer. They paid nearly £10m to Bochum for Armel Bella-Kotchap, while Gavin Bazunu and Mateusz Lis have also arrived. Mattias Svanberg is reportedly very close to joining in a £9m deal from Italian outfit Bologna. In the opposite direction, Harry Lewis and Caleb Watts have moved on, while Fraser Forster has joined Tottenham Hotspur on a free.
The club are apparently ready to offload the likes of Nathan Redmond and Theo Walcott, who are nearing the end of their current deals at St Mary’s. James Ward-Prowse is a player that they are desperate to hold on to, but several of the Premier League’s big boys are trying the lure the England international away. Before the window slams shut, expect plenty more wheeling and dealing to be done at Southampton.
2022-23 Key Fixtures: Saints start at Spurs
Southampton have a tough start to their 2022-23 Premier League season, as Hasenhuttl takes his troops to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play Antonio Conte’s Spurs. The first home match will be against Leeds United on 13th August. Before the end of the first month, the Saints will also play Manchester United and Chelsea.
On the final day of the Premier League season, Southampton welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to St Mary’s, while their last away match will be a week earlier at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Who Are Southampton’s Biggest Challengers: Mid-table for the Saints?
Southampton will want to improve on the last few seasons. They have failed to secure a top-half finish since the 2016-17, when Claude Puel guided the club to an eighth-place finish. The Saints are certainly capable of finishing in the top half this season.
Southampton lived dangerously close to the edge at times last term, and they ended the season with a poor run of four straight defeats. Can they improve this time around? We take a look at who will be their biggest rivals.
Crystal Palace Preview: Can the Eagles break into top half?
Patrick Vieira had a fine first season at Crystal Palace. Before arriving at Selhurst Park, the Eagles were tipped to struggle, but they finished the 2021-22 campaign in 12th spot. Vieira made some shrewd signings last summer, rebuilding the squad after several first-team players departed.
Crystal Palace will be looking to finish in the top half of the Premier League table this season. At the time of writing, the south London club are available at 7/4 for a top-half finish.
Leeds United Preview: Whites to stay away from trouble under Marsch?
Leeds United looked to be heading for relegation last season, as the popular Marcelo Bielsa was sacked in February after a 4-0 hammering at home to Tottenham. Jesse Marsch lost his first two, but Leeds went on to win three and draw two of five.
United survived on the final day after an excellent 2-1 win at Brentford. Leeds have some excellent players, and the Yorkshire side should be nowhere near the bottom three. Marsch will be looking to stamp his authority at Elland Road, and Leeds could finish in mid-table this term.
West Ham United Preview: Europe again for the Hammers?
Under the experienced David Moyes, West Ham United have been the surprise package in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons or so. The Hammers finished sixth in the 2020-21 campaign to book their spot in the Europa League.
West Ham have turned themselves into a genuine top-four contender, and they have qualified for Europe via their league position two years running for the first time in the club’s history. The Irons have a tough start against the Premier League champions, but West Ham will relish the opportunity of upsetting one of the big boys early doors.
Leicester City Preview: Foxes to improve this time around?
The 2020-21 season was a memorable one for Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester. The Midlands club beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final to win the trophy for the first time in their history. They finished fifth in the league, losing out on a place in the top four on the final day for the second season running.
Leicester failed to replicate those heights last season. However, Rodgers is one of the most experienced managers in the Premier League, and the Foxes will surely improve on last season’s eighth-place finish. Leicester will be hoping to be in the mix for the European slots this time around.
Newcastle United Preview: Can the Magpies to seal a top-six finish?
Backed by very generous owners, Newcastle United have an open chequebook this summer. They made some huge signings back in January, and Eddie Howe’s Magpies won several matches to finish in 11th spot. It was a remarkable turnaround for Newcastle, who spent the first half of the season in the bottom three.
At the time of writing, Newcastle are the seventh favourites behind the top six to win the title. It may be too early to think about being top dogs in England, but the Magpies may just break into Europe this term, while the cup competitions could also take priority at St James’.
Aston Villa Preview: Big season ahead for Gerrard?
After a solid season, Steven Gerrard is starting to build something at Villa Park. The boss has already made some superb signings, and his legendary status as a player allows him to attract top players, with Philippe Coutinho already arriving from Barca this summer.
Many bookies and pundits alike have tipped Aston Villa for a mid-table finish, but can the Midlands outfit sneak into Europe this season?
Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview: Top half again for Lage’s men?
Under Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves played UEFA Europa League football, reaching the quarter-finals in 2020. They had a mixed 2020-21 campaign, finishing in 13th. However, they improved last term, with Lage guiding the club to tenth in his first year in charge.
Wolves were in the mix for the European spots at stages last season, but the squad certainly ran out of steam in the latter weeks. Nevertheless, if they can get some fresh faces in, Wolves could be a force to be reckoned with in the race for Europe this season.
Players to Watch Out For in the 2022-23 Season: Ward-Prowse & Adams to stand out?
Ward-Prowse is one of the deadliest dead-ball specialists in the Premier League. Last term, he finished as the Saints’ top scorer with ten goals. The England ace has been linked with a move away, but Hasenhuttl will be desperate to keep him at St Mary’s. If he does stay, Ward-Prowse will be vital to their cause again.
It took time for Che Adams to settle in when he first arrived at St Mary’s, but the Scotland international has become a real hit with the Southampton supporters after a good couple of seasons. The club will be looking to Adams for goals once again this term.
Our Southampton Predictions: Saints to secure top-half finish
As we touched on, Southampton are one of the most unpredictable teams in the Premier League. They could put themselves in the mix for Europe, while the Saints might even end up in a relegation scrap.
We can see Southampton improving on last season’s 15th-place finish, and we are backing them to finish in the top half of the table (9/2).
