Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
In the match moved to Monday, two teams that were unlucky in the last round will face off. Bournemouth's result was expected since they played at Anfield, while Southampton missed out on a win at the last moment against a returning opponent.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth do not know how to be modest, even against giants. While they have yet to take points off the top sides, they consistently bombard their defences with nearly twenty shots per game. The same was against Liverpool, but the class of the opponents’ forwards, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, was too high. The South Americans secured a comprehensive home victory. It's no accident that Bournemouth rank third (16.8) in shots taken per game, behind Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Southampton are a perfect victim, allowing 15.8 shots per game and holding the sixth position for this unwanted stat.
Southampton
Aaron Ramsdale has now appeared in goal for Southampton, providing some calm at the last line of defence. He replaces Gavin Bazunu, who has been sidelined with a ruptured Achilles since spring. The 34-year-old Alex McCarthy wasn't even a regular starter in the Championship. Against Ipswich Town, Ramsdale made five saves, but the concern is that the hosts failed to convert their chances (2.49-1.69 xG) into more than one goal. They retreated so much in the end that they allowed Sam Morsy to score from long range in the fifth minute of injury time.
Bournemouth vs Southampton Prediction
Bournemouth's aggressive approach in attack against Southampton's wastefulness and weak defence strongly suggest backing a straightforward win for Bournemouth.
