OptiNews - Friday 22 to Thursday 28 December 2017

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Premier League team news, odds and stats for this weekend’s fixtures

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Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, Sportsmail brings you the latest squad news, odds and stats on every top flight fixture as it breaks.

Simply click on your team in the fixture list below to find out who is ruled out and who is making a return as well as all the key statistics surrounding your club’s fixture.

In or out? Keep up-to-date with all the latest team news and stats ahead of the weekend

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:calendar:

#SaintsFC’s home game with #LFC in February has a new date, after being picked for live TV coverage:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/944198340572479488

Retweets: 1

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/12/2017 13:41:49

| | The Saints Injury List - Couple Of KnocksVITALFOOTBALL |
| | West Brom ready to sell Jonny Evans but Manchester City look instead to Van DijkBELFASTTELE |
| | Dons legend Eric Black resigns from Southampton over back issuesEVENINGEXPRESS |
| | VAR Comes In For FA Cup 3rd RoundVITALFOOTBALL |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Watch live as #SaintsFC boss Mauricio Pellegrino looks ahead to the visit of #HTAFC in the #PL: https://www.pscp.tv/w/bQuw8zMxOTB8MXJtR1BPTmJyTWdLToKpptaiRI_Pe55A5bHTXCeUfsCC87GkvZ-H1jF5T51A

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Mauricio Pellegrino reveals that #SaintsFC will be without @OficialCedric (ankle) and @ryanbertrand3 (hamstring) fo… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/944201039833690112

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

MP: "We have got the same feeling as the fans when we play badly. We are unhappy and we have to try to bounce back… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/944202489993285632

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Mauricio Pellegrino says a victory against #HTAFC would be very important for his side to ‘change the feeling’ from… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/944203430347919360

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@BenDinnery - Ben Dinnery

Pellegrino confirms that both of his first choice full-backs have been ruled out of the game versus Huddersfield. R… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/944201559214260225

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Full #SaintsFC team news ahead of #HTAFC, with @OficialCedric and @ryanbertrand3 both set to miss out: http://sfcne.ws/TeamNewsHTAFC

Retweets: 4

Favourites: 15

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/12/2017 14:41:57

| | Terry does not want Chelsea to pay more than £55million for this player | FutnSoccerFUTNSOCCER |
| | TOTHOTFC |
| | Ian Wright says Wilfried Zaha can be Palace’s Le TissierCROYDONADVERTISER |
| | Ian Wright urges Liverpool player to sign these two players in January | FutnSoccerFUTNSOCCER |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

PTS -Huddersfield-Home

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Let us know your prediction for our game against Huddersfield Town and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a signed home shirt!

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Southampton v Huddersfield preview: Saints wait on Cedric Soares ahead of mid-table battle

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Southampton host Huddersfield on Saturday with both sides desperate for a win that would lift them further away from trouble.

Southampton are without a win in five - their last success being a 4-1 demolition of Everton at the end of November - and although look relatively safe in 12th, they are only three points above the relegation zone heading into the weekend.

Their opponents are one place and three points above them having overcome a sticky November, in which they lost 4-0 to Bournemouth and 5-0 to Arsenal, to register wins over Brighton and Watford in two of their last three games.

The 4-1 win at Watford last weekend prompted boss David Wagner to say Premier League survival for his side was now a “belief” rather than a “hope”.

The reverse fixture at the end of August was a disappointing goalless draw.

Cedric Soares is Mauricio Pellegrino’s only big injury worry after he came off injured against Chelsea last weekend following a nasty collision with the advertising boards.

Ryan Bertrand also limped off during Southampton’s 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge but could still feature against Huddersfield on Saturday.

Huddersfield’s emphatic 4-1 win over Watford last weekend came at a cost as Elias Kachunga misses out due to a knee injury sustained in the game while Jonathan Hogg is suspended following his red card.

Also unavailable for selection are Phillip Billing (ankle), Jon Gorenc Stankovic (knee) and Michael Hefele (Achilles) but Chris Lowe could be available despite coming off last weekend with a foot injury.

Southampton have won their last three home matches against Huddersfield in all competitions, scoring 13 goals and conceding just once.

Huddersfield’s last top-flight visit to Southampton is also the last time they won away from home against the Saints, winning 2-1 at the Dell in September 1971.

Saints have won just one of their last nine Premier League games (D3 L5) and are winless in their last five (D2 L3).

Southampton have lost just one of their last 26 home Premier League games against newly promoted sides (W17 D8), losing 0-1 against Cardiff in April 2014.

Huddersfield’s 4-1 win at Watford last weekend ended a run of seven consecutive away Premier League games without a goal (D1 L6). Both of their away victories in the Premier League have been by a three-goal margin (3-0 vs Crystal Palace).

Charlie Austin has had a hand in six goals in seven previous league appearances against the Terriers (four goals, two assists).

Laurent Depoitre has scored two goals and provided an assist in his last two Premier League games - this after netting just twice in his first 13 in the competition.

So hard to predict. Huddersfield can’t score an away goal for toffee and then go and score four at Watford. Southampton were excellent in the first half against Arsenal, but have been pretty poor since. However, I think Southampton are better than they have been recently. You have to play Charlie Austin. When he came off the bench against Chelsea he was the only one who looked like scoring. He puts the ball in the back of the net.

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Pellegrino’s pressure test

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Mauricio Pellegrino is facing arguably the highest pressure test of his managerial career as Saints head into a crunch halfway point fixture against Huddersfield.

Tomorrow’s game at St Mary’s will see Saints complete half of their Premier League fixtures for the campaign, with rumblings of uncertainty and discontent still in the air.

Any thoughts that merely replacing Claude Puel would sweep away the problems at the club have proven unfounded with Saints heading into the game six points worse off than they were at the same stage last year, and without a run in the EFL Cup or Europa League football also on the agenda.

Pellegrino is a man under pressure, and knows he needs to deliver some consistent results.

Much like the last time Saints so desperately needed a win – at home against Everton – they find themselves facing probably the right kind of opposition.

Though Huddersfield, doing so well following promotion to the Premier League, secured an impressive 4-1 win at Watford last time out, their away record has been poor.

Before the victory at Vicarage Road they had not only failed to win away since the opening day of the season when they defeated Crystal Palace, but hadn’t scored a single goal.

It just underlines the importance to Saints of making this fixture count, and easing the nerves over Christmas by getting another three points on the board.

With games away to Tottenham and Manchester United to come after Santa visits, anything less than a win would leave Saints looking nervously over their shoulders as the bottom three edges ever closer.

And, barring an unexpected result at Wembley or Old Trafford, it would just heap the pressure onto the next crucial fixture, at home to Crystal Palace as the first match at St Mary’s of 2018.

What Pellegrino would ideally like is not just a pressure relieving win over Huddersfield, but something to really kickstart the season.

It’s fair to say that the two games coming up immediately after Saints face the Terriers do not look ideal for building momentum, but Pellegrino and his men need to try and remain positive.

They really don’t want a repeat of the aftermath of Everton.

Having secured a handsome 4-1 win, and a much needed confidence boost, Saints struggled to really follow it up.

Indeed, in the five games between then and now they have collected just two points, despite a few good performances in amongst it all.

Despite some edginess amongst supporters, there appears no immediate appetite for any sort of change at St Mary’s.

Those in charge would really need to hit the panic button to feel it was worthwhile, given the scrutiny they will come under if they dismiss a second manager in less than a year – and especially given the first one didn’t really do that badly.

Puel’s Leicester renaissance is also not helping matters.

While the Saints hierarchy probably never expected to see him in this country again after axing him, his appointment at Leicester, and subsequent success, not least the thrashing they handed out at St Mary’s, adds an intriguing subplot.

It is yet another thing cranking up the pressure on the St Mary’s decision makers.

There will be those who feel that the manager, or managers if you include Puel, are not to blame.

Not only might they expect more from some of the players, but also question the overall balance and makeup of the squad, and the direction the club has taken off the field too.

But, ultimately, Pellegrino is the man in the spotlight and, fairly or otherwise, he knows he needs a big result tomorrow.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/12/2017 15:42:20

| | Southampton must sign ‘impressive’ Premier League star if Man City buy Van DijkFOOTBALLFANCAST |
| | City make Saints man their top target in JanuaryREADSOUTHAMPTON |

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Blogs – Fresh Saints

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| Preview: Southampton v Huddersfield | If you’d told me at the start of the season that on our second meeting with Huddersfield Town we’d be labelling it a … 22-12-2017 |

Older content…

| Charlie Austin – the simple genius of a traditional number nine2 days ago |
| Virgil Van Dijk: updates regarding Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City4 days ago |
| Two good, two bad: Chelsea v Southampton5 days ago |
| 2017-18 Premier League cups – Understanding the tough and easiest starts6 days ago |
| Two good, two bad: Southampton v Leicester8 days ago |
| What is Southampton FC’s average yearly salary? And how does it compare to Premier League rivals?9 days ago |
| Two good, two bad: Souhampton v Arsenal12 days ago |
| Behind enemy lines: Southampton v Arsenal13 days ago |
| Basel’s Mohamed Elyounoussi on Southampton’s radar16 days ago |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:speaking_head: “Everybody is conscious about what we have to do.”

#SaintsFC boss Mauricio Pellegrino previews #HTAFC:

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Sourced from BBC article

Southampton v Huddersfield Town

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Southampton will be without right-back Cedric Soares, who sustained a fresh injury in Saturday’s defeat at Chelsea.

Left-back Ryan Bertrand is also out after pulling a hamstring in that game.

Huddersfield forward Elias Kachunga faces three months out after picking up a serious knee injury last weekend.

Left-back Chris Lowe could start despite being substituted with a foot injury against Watford, but midfielder Jonathan Hogg serves a one-match ban after his red card in that game.

Tony Husband: "Southampton travel to Tottenham and Manchester United over Christmas, so it’s fair to say this is a massive home fixture for boss Mauricio Pellegrino. He needs to restore some confidence in his squad and give a fan base which is becoming rapidly disenchanted a bit of hope.

"The Argentine must first decide whether to recall Virgil van Dijk after dropping him at Chelsea last week. If he’s not involved that could be the last St Mary’s sees of the Dutchman in a home shirt.

"Which Huddersfield will we see though? The one which has scored seven goals in their two away wins this season, or the one which didn’t score at all in the intervening seven games on the road?

“Town have not fared well on their trips to St Mary’s in the past but David Wagner’s side have written their own history in 2017.”

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino: “We have got the same feeling as the fans when we play badly. We are unhappy and we have to try to bounce back from these situations and show our best version to them.”

Huddersfield head coach David Wagner: "It’s so important during the Christmas period that you focus on what is in front of you. We are focused on football at this time, not family.

"Now it’s all about giving the players the right information in their heads; from one day to another they are now getting different information in this busy period.

“We can take a lot of things out of the game against Southampton earlier this season, but we know it’s a new game, an away game, where again we have to be at our best.”

I have been getting some stick from Huddersfield fans because the Terriers are still waiting for me to predict a win for them this season.

I do think they will get something at St Mary’s Stadium, though. Southampton have had just one win in nine and I think a point would be a decent return for Huddersfield.

Follow Match of the Day on Instagram for the best photos from the world of football.

SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Liverpool that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Premier League games live on : Man Utd v Chelsea, Arsenal v Man City, Liverpool v Tottenham on February schedule

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Sky Sports has confirmed its latest batch of live Premier League games for February, with more big clashes at the top of the table on the schedule.

Twelve games have been added to the Sky Sports fixture list for the second month of 2018, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham all in front of the cameras as the title race and battle for the top four continues apace.

Liverpool take on Spurs in a Super Sunday showdown at the start of February, while Jose Mourinho welcomes old club Chelsea back to Manchester United and leaders Manchester City travel to Arsenal at the end of the month.

  • moves to midday on Sunday, February 4 if either side involved in an FA Cup R4 replay

** subject to Carabao Cup final - only one of these games can take place (or neither if the Carabao Cup final is Manchester City v Chelsea)

* moves to midday on Sunday, February 25 if either team involved in an FA Cup R5 replay

Find details of all the live football coming up on Sky Sports right here.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/12/2017 16:42:24

| | Austin: 'Southampton need to stick together’SPORTSMOLE |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Pellegrino’s pre-Huddersfield press conference

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