Southampton season preview: Saints seek to free themselves from vicious cycle

Southampton finished 15th in the Premier League, 15 points clear of the relegation zone. Sounds comfortable, but a winless run of nine in the middle of the season had the Saints in real trouble. That streak began with six straight losses and included the 9-0 evisceration by Manchester United at Old Trafford – an unforgivable result, which did not herald the same remarkable turnaround in form caused by the 9-0 loss at home to Leicester in the previous campaign. Thankfully for Ralph Hasenhuttl and his players, an unbeaten run of seven games near the start of last season had given them some leeway for later in the term.

The most significant departure is Danny Ings to Aston Villa. Two seasons ago, the striker scored 22 Premier League goals for Southampton; last season, he recorded 12 goals and four assists in the top flight – a crucial contribution in helping the Saints steer clear of the drop. In his place arrives Adam Armstrong from Championship club Blackburn. Everton loanee Theo Walcott joins on a permanent deal for free, while fellow winger Valentino Livramento has signed from Chelsea’s academy – as has Armando Broja, up front, on a loan deal.

At left-back, Romain Perraud arrives from Ligue 1 side Brest. He replaces Ryan Bertrand, who departs for Leicester on a free transfer - and joining Bertrand at the King Power Stadium is fellow defender Yannick Vestergaard, in a £15m deal completed in time to register the big Dane for the season’s opener. Liverpool loanee Takumi Minamino returns to his parent club, while midfielder Mario Lemina and goalkeeper Angus Gunn have both been sold.

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Hasenhuttl is entering his third full season in charge of the club. The Austrian, nicknamed the “Alpine Klopp”, comes across well and has shown in spurts that he can get a team playing exciting, efficient football. However, the side’s recurring runs of frighteningly poor form since the 54-year-old took charge in December 2018 have seemingly had him on the verge of a sacking more than once.

The truth is that Ings bailed out Southampton on a few occasions with some remarkable periods of form in his time with the Saints. The striker is now gone, and so greater responsibility will lie with other players. One who will relish that reality is James Ward-Prowse – captain, midfielder, free-kick specialist. The England international is not quite a player to build a team around, but is still his side’s best player and will certainly be central to any success Southampton have this season.

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Breaking the vicious cycle in which they’ve found themselves for several seasons now – one they’ve been able to escape in nearly three seasons under Hasenhuttl, who leads his side on impressive streaks from time to time, but Southampton have thus far proven themselves incapable of converting those runs into sustained, meaningful success. The Saints’ league record under the Austrian reads: 16th, 11th, 15th. They must exceed their best of those to deem this season a success. Finish in the top half, break the cycle.

(a) v Everton, Saturday 14 August, 3pm

(h) v Manchester United, Sunday 23 August, 2pm

(a) v Newcastle, Saturday 28 August, 3pm

McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud; Ward-Prowse, Diallo, S Armstrong, Redmond; Walcott, A Armstrong.

12th (200/1 for the title)