Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English League Cup match.
Will Southampton throw their full force behind overcoming Stoke City in this secondary cup, or are they so confident in their superiority over the Championship side that they will field a reserve squad? Does that guarantee a victory for the hosts?
Southampton
Southampton have been losing across the board in the Premier League, but there's hardly any blame to attach to them for the defeat by Manchester City. They even hit the woodwork in the first half. They didn't create much (0.21 xG from 5 shots), but that's understandable against the champions. They conceded only one goal from Erling Haaland. When they face opponents closer to their level, like Leicester City (2:3), they can create significantly more (2.15 xG, 14 shots).
Stoke City
For Stoke City, scoring on the road is a major issue unless it's the League Cup. In the Championship, an away game almost equals a defeat with zero goals. Just one winning goal against Plymouth Argyle, a goalless draw with Swansea City, and the remaining four matches were scoreless losses. However, in the League Cup, they first beat Carlisle United from League Two (2:0) and then handed Middlesbrough their biggest defeat of the season (5:0). Against them, all five shots on target seemed unplayable, which can happen when there’s a 17-year-old in central defence. Southampton's coaching staff will take note of this.
Southampton vs Stoke City Prediction
Even Southampton’s semi-reserve squad should manage to score a couple of goals. They have the resources for that. Conceding against Stoke City would require some effort.
