Southampton vs Ipswich Prediction & Betting Tips (21 September)

4th in the Championship last year, Southampton then moved up thanks to successes against West Brom in the semi and Leeds in the final. The Saints are therefore back in the elite after a short season spent at the lower level. They risk suffering this season and the start of the championship is worrying. The teammates of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale have still not pocketed a single point after 4 days. They lost to Newcastle 1-0, Nottingham Forest 0-1, Brentford 3-1 and Manchester United last weekend 0-3. Traveling to Everton this week, Southampton, on the other hand, booked their ticket for the next round of the League Cup 1-1, qualifying following penalties.

After 22 years of absence, Ipswich returned to the Premier League this season. In the previous year, the Tractor Boys finished in 2nd place in the Championship and narrowly missed out on the title by 1 point behind Leicester. They are having legitimate difficulty getting up to speed so far. Indeed, the promoted team did not win any of its first 4 championship matches. Beaten by the big names Liverpool 0-2 and Manchester City 4-1 to start, the club whose shareholder Ed Sheeran then held Fulham 1-1 and Brighton to a draw last weekend 0-0.

For Southampton, now replacement goalkeeper Bazunu is still not fit this weekend. In addition, defender and captain Stephens is suspended while Rennes winger Sulemana is announced as doubtful. Little wanted by Arteta at Arsenal, goalkeeper Ramsdale came looking for playing time. Struggling in the offensive area, the Saints have only scored one goal since the start of the championship. Forwards Che Adams (Torino) and Mara (Strasbourg) left this summer. This is also the case for defenders Caleta-Car (Lyon), Lyanco (Atlético-MG) and Perraud (Betis Sevilla), midfielder Charles (Sheffield Wednesday) and attacking midfielder Carlos Alcaraz (Flamengo). The Saints, on the other hand, were very active in terms of arrivals. We can highlight the recruitments of goalkeeper Ramsdale (Arsenal), defenders Harwood-Bellis (Man City), Sugarawa (AZ Alkmaar), Edwards (Peterborough), Wood (Swansea) and Taylor (Burnley), midfielders Downes (West Ham) , Mateus Fernandes (Sporting), Ugochukwu (Chelsea) and Lallana (Brighton) and attackers Brereton Diaz (Villarreal), Fraser (Newcastle), Cornet (West Ham) and Archer (Aston Villa). The Ipswich coach still deplores the withdrawals of potential starters Broadhead (13 goals in the Championship last year) and Clarke (midfield) as well as replacement defender Donacien.

England international Kalvin Phillips was loaned by Manchester City this summer. He should start in midfield this weekend. In the offensive sector, recruits Liam Delap (1 goal in PL) and Szmodics take their place. The latter shone last year in the Championship with 27 goals. No major player left the club this summer. On the other hand, significant reinforcements have arrived for this season in the Premier League. We are thinking of goalkeeper Muric (Burnley), defenders Greaves (Hull), O'Shea (Burnley) and Johnson (West Ham), midfielders Phillips (Man City), Cajuste (Naples) and Szmodics (Blackburn) as well as midfielders attackers Hutchinson (Chelsea), Delap (Man City), Ogbene (Luton Town) and Clarke (Sunderland).