West Ham United FC vs Southampton FC, Premier League 2020-2021, Today Match Prediction

West Ham United FC vs Southampton FC Match Prediction & Analysis

The Hammers have the opportunity to secure their best finish to a Premier League season in over 20 years when they welcome Southampton to the London Stadium this weekend.

David Moyes has worked wonders at West Ham since taking over last season, picking them up when they were 17th in the table, and taking them to potentially as high as 6th in this.

Even more impressive is the fact that they were leading the race for 4th spot for quite some time, holding off the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Spurs with good performances against clubs up and down the country.

Southampton have certainly improved over the past couple of months, but will be disappointed at how a great start to the season turned into one of the worst slumps in their recent history.

A 14th place finish would by no means be a disastrous campaign, but Saints’ fans will expect them to sustain a better level of performance next season.

TEAMS PREVIEW

West Ham United FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LWLDW

Original predicted finish: 16th 

Likely finish: 6th 

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Can secure their highest finish since 1999

     Fans will be back to cheer them on

Reasons to be fearful:

     0-0 draw against them earlier in the season

    Have been very inconsistent recently

Regardless of how this season ends, David Moyes and the West Ham supporters can be very pleased with the direction in which the club is heading, and they could secure a return to European football if they finish in at least 7th.

A 6th place finish would ensure they go into the group stage of the Europa League, and their supporters would relish the opportunity to take on clubs from across the continent.

After selling one of their brightest prospects, Grady Diangana, last summer, the signings of Soucek, Benrahma and Coufal have all been fantastic additions to the squad, alongside regulars Declan Rice and Michail Antonio.

Perhaps the icing on the cake has been Jesse Lingard, on loan from Manchester United, who burst into life when he joined in January. Can they end the season on a high note here?

Star Man – Michail Antonio

Their talisman has been as important as ever for West Ham this season and is their top scorer despite missing large chunks of the season through injury.

Southampton FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): DLWWL

Original predicted finish: 10th 

Likely finish: 15th 

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Have the attackers to trouble West Ham

     Two wins from their last five gives them hope to end the season well

Reasons to be fearful:

     Haven’t won away from home in their last four

     West Ham have more incentive to win here

The Saints will put this season down to a learning experience and try and improve over the summer for the next campaign.

While not a dreadful campaign, a run of nine defeats from 12 games saw them plummet down the table from 6th to 14th, just as it appeared they could do what West Ham have done and secure a European finish.

Injuries to top players haven’t helped, with Danny Ings once again missing a chunk of the season, but Saints’ fans will hope that their worst spell of form in recent history won’t be repeated next season.

They earned a 0-0 draw with West Ham earlier in the season, and they will hope to play with the same determination here.

Star Man – Danny Ings

Despite missing 11 games in the league through injury, Ings is still the Saints’ top scorer with 12 goals. Can they hold onto him next season?

WEST HAM UNITED FC vs SOUTHAMPTON FC
Winning Prediction

     West Ham are favourites but it won’t be easy

     They have the greater incentive to win

     Saints can pull off a surprise win if at their best

It would be wrong to suggest that the success of West Ham’s season completely depends on achieving a top six finish, but it would certainly help.

It would be huge for a club with a fanbase the size of West Ham to secure European football again after so long, and a real boost for David Moyes and his team.

With the fans back too, they should be favourites here.

West Ham to win 2-1

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