Southampton are starting to develop expensive tastes, and they deserve a treat

Eight games played. 16 points. Fourth in the league. The opening games of the 2020/21 Premier League season have been an absolute joy from a Southampton perspective, with the south-coast club occupying a Champions League spot going into Monday night’s tricky test at Wolves.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men have been an absolute delight to watch so far this term. The Austrian’s high-pressing system seems to have finally clicked with his players, thus making them a formidable force. 

There were glimpses of the outfit Southampton could become in the second half of last season, particularly in the restart after lockdown as the Saints lost just one of their eight final games.

But that side is well and truly in motion now as a shaky first few games have been brushed under the carpet with the Hampshire club currently on a six-game unbeaten run, winning five of those outings.

This exceptional run has seen Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men climb towards the summit of the Premier League table, and even occupying it, for a mere day-and-a-half or so.

This season has seen players such as Oriol Romeu, Che Adams and Jannik Vestergaard play their best football in a Saints shirt after finding it tricky to maintain a place in the starting lineup previously.

Currently sat in fourth (at the time of writing), the Saints could find themselves in a higher position after proceedings on Monday night, but won’t be able to go top again given the meeting between third-placed Liverpool and first-placed Leicester.

Even without talisman Danny Ings, who misses Monday’s game, Saints looked comfortable last time out against Newcastle. Granted, they faced an outfit with little ambition to attack on the night, but their system was in full flow.

Furthermore, the duo up front of Theo Walcott and Che Adams worked a treat as the former assisted the latter for an early goal and both buzzed around the pitch efficiently, filling the Danny Ings-shaped hole nicely.

But it will be a completely different proposition on Monday night as Southampton visit another side who have had a decent start to their campaign in Wolves.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santos was recently awarded Premier League manager of the month for October as his side went unbeaten, however this did raise some eyebrows as none of the performances were particularly eye-catching.

Sat in ninth, inconsistency has been the Black Country club’s worst enemy this term. They’ve looked excellent at times,particularly in their 2-0 win at Sheffield United, and woeful in others, the 4-0 defeat at West Ham rings a bell.

But after going into the international break with the low of a 1-0 defeat at Leicester, Wolves will be looking to make wrongs right, particularly at home, and will certainly give Southampton a good test.

Raul Jiménez is always a threat and has put Southampton to the sword a handful of times in his Wolves career. As well as the Mexican, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence will be a handful, as could Adama Traoré who has found a place in the starting eleven hard to come by this season.

Two sides who love to score goals. It’s looking likely to be an entertaining affair, and could even provide some insight on who could be dark horses for a European spot this season…

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt @DanJHargraves

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