Southampton v West Ham Betting Tips: Christmas cracker at St Mary’s?

Odds and preview of Prem tussle

It may be the season of goodwill, but neither Southampton nor West Ham United will be in a generous mood, with tonight’s Premier League clash vital for both sides.

Saints are bidding to boost their three-point gap above the drop zone after a couple of wins under new boss Ralph Hassenhuttl. As for the Irons, victory could take them from 12th to eighth in the table.

Ahead of this South Coast clash – live on Sky Sports Premier League / Main Event from 7:45pm – we’ve got all the key odds and info…

Head-to-Head

Over history, the Hammers have fared the better, with 75 wins to Southampton’s 50. That included a run of four straight head-to-head wins in the early 2000s.

However, recent affairs have been much more even. The last six meetings have produced three wins apiece.

The most recent came in March 2018, when West Ham came out on top with a comfortable 3-0 home win.

Likely XIs

Saints have experimented with three at the back in their last two games, and the result has been wins over Arsenal and Huddersfield. They could go 3-4-2-1 again in this clash.

In midfield, suspension for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could mean a return to the starting XI for Mario Lemina. Up top, Danny Ings is set to lead the line after recent good form.

Injuries continue to hamper the Hammers, with Jack Wilshere and Marko Arnautovic amongst the most recent casualties. They’re still likely to stick with 4-4-2, with Andy Carroll and Chicharito potentially the strike duo of choice.