James Maddison led charge with a pair of goals, as Tottenham scored five times in the first half en route to a 5-0 victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium on Sunday.
WATCH — Southampton vs Tottenham full match replay
The victory snaps a three-game winless run for Tottenham (10th - 23 points) and sends them back up into the top half of the Premier League table with a healthy boost to the goal difference column to boot (+17, 3rd-best in the PL). Maddison scored his goals in the opening and closing seconds of the first half, with Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr all getting in on the fun as well.
Southampton (20th - 5 points) are now winless in their last six PL games (0W-1D-5L) and are nine points adrift of safety after 16 games.
When the vibes get this bad…
… this is what usually happens. There was an undeniable spirit about Southampton to start the season — they believed in the football they were trying to play and they fought until the very end week in and week out, even if they typically fell short — but that spirit has gone now, and it’s difficult to see a way back for Russell Martin, who actually missed Spurs’ 5th goal in the first half because he had already headed down the tunnel for halftime.
From a Spurs perspective, the result will obviously do wonders for morale after five games without a win (all competitions), but it won’t bring Micky van de Ven or Cristian Romero (or even Ben Davies) back any sooner. We know they’re going to score goals — even at less than full strength — but we also know that Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray are going to be tested a lot more than what Saints could muster. Manchester United in the League Cup quarterfinals on Thursday, followed by Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. Let’s reconvene then.
Player ratings - Southampton vs Tottenham
What’s next?
- Tottenham vs Manchester United (League Cup QF) — Thursday (3 pm ET)
- Fulham vs Southampton — Sunday (9 am ET)
- Tottenham vs Liverpool — Sunday (11:30 am ET)
Southampton vs Tottenham live updates - by Andy Edwards
Southampton vs Tottenham final score: 0-5
Goalscorers: James Maddison (1', 45'+3), Son Heung-min (12'), Dejan Kulusevski (14'), Pape Matar Sarr (25')
GOAL! Southampton 0-5 Tottenham: James Maddison hooks another home home from a tight angle (45'+3)
GOAL! Southampton 0-4 Tottenham: Pape Matar Sarr weaves his way in for another (25')
GOAL! Southampton 0-3 Tottenham: Dejan Kulusevski cleans up the rebound (14')
GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Tottenham: Son Heung-min strikes at the back post (12')
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Tottenham: James Maddison finishes after Djed Spence makes a great run, pass (1')
Southampton starting lineup
McCarthy - Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Downes, Manning - Aribo, Dibling, Fernandes - Armstrong, Sulemana
Tottenham starting lineup
Forster - Spence, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie - Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison - Kulusevski, Son, Solanke
How to watch Southampton vs Tottenham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2pm ET, Sunday (December 15)
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
The team was down to bare bones for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Rangers, with just one senior center back available and 7 of 11 places on the bench occupied by academy graduates — and that was before Timo Werner was hooked at halftime for a performance that Ange Postecoglou deemed “unacceptable.” 18-year-old Archie Gray partnered Radu Dragusin in central defense and has now appeared in all positions across the backline during his debut season for Tottenham. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies are all expected to be out until sometime around the new year.
Saints and Spurs are alike in that while the results have been far from desirable this season, the performances were actually quite good and they simply could not catch a break early in the season. Is it an 8-point difference, the gap currently between Southampton and safety in 17th? Probably not, but they would have a fighting chance. Tottenham’s makeshift defense could be the perfect remedy for the worst scoring record in the PL — 11 goals in 15 games.
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Ross Stewart (muscular), William Smallbone (thigh), Aaron Ramsdale (finger), Jack Stephens (suspension), Juan Larios (unspecified)
Tottenham team news, focus
OUT: Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Cristian Romero (quad), Yves Bissouma (suspension), Guglielmo Vicario (fractured ankle - MORE), Wilson Odobert (thigh), Ben Davies (thigh), Mikey Moore (illness), Richarlison (thigh), Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension - MORE)
Southampton vs Tottenham prediction
It’s always tricky when two teams that usually beat themselves get together, but the extra few days between games should give Saints good reason for hope. If they don’t concede early, they should win it late. Southampton 1-0 Tottenham.
