| Saints V Chelsea The Preview | Injury hit Saints face a Chelsea side looking to edge into the top four whilst a win could see the home side hit the … 30-10-2016 |
| Liverpool Chasing Yet Another Saints Star | Liverpool are seemingly continuing in their quest to be able to put out a complete team of ex Saints players, but … 30-10-2016 |
Boufal’s jaw-dropping goal settled the EFL Cup fourth-round tie at St Mary’s, with the 23-year-old making his first start for the team and also playing the full game.
Puel, however, has cautioned that Saints must continue to tread carefully, with Boufal having only just returned from a long spell on the sidelines.
"It’s important to stay patient, because he was out of football for five months and it’s important he comes back with a good physical level,” explained the Southampton manager.
“He must play 90 minutes in the last game, which is not normal, but it was an obligation for us with the injuries and now it’s important to stay with good calm and to let him come back with good recovery and good quality.
“He can make the difference in the play, like with his goal, but he cannot play with a good physical level in all the games, and it’s important to allow him to come back with calm and quality.”
Sofiane Boufal still needs to learn his trade before he can be compared to Eden Hazard, according to Claude Puel.
The Saints boss should know. He first introduced Hazard into the ranks at Lille when the Belgian was just 16-years-old, and brought in Boufal to replace him, before then bringing him to St Mary’s for a club record £16m.
Hazard has become one of world football’s biggest stars since his move to Chelsea, and will meet up with his ex-boss Puel when the Blues come to St Mary’s today.
Saints have their own attacking talent in Boufal, who marked his first start for the club with a stunning winner against Sunderland in midweek.
For Puel it is hard to compare the two at this stage of their respective careers.
He said: “Different players with different qualities.
“Possibilities for them both to dribble and to make the difference with the ball past four or five players perhaps, but with different qualities.
“Eden Hazard is a strong little man with strong in his legs and it’s difficult to move him and he has the capacity and the ability to dribble and keep good resistance against all the defenders.
“Boufal is light and has the capacity to dribble but without this strong body but he can do fantastic moments also.
“Different players and for the moment of course my experience for Eden and now Eden knows he can play one or two touch and make a good combination with his partners and when to take the ball and dribble, score or give a good assist.
“He has the possibility to find the good balance in his paly.
“For Sofiane it’s different. It’s the start of his career and he must learn the aspect of the play when he plays simple with one or two touch with his partner and then take the ball and dribble and make the difference.
“It’s the age difference and their body also.”
Hazard will present a substantial threat to Saints tomorrow and Puel added: “I know very well Eden. I started him on the first team at Lille when he was just 16.
“He was a young player without structure but with the same qualities.
“He was a fantastic player and stayed a fantastic player and you can see this.
“He has the same capabilities and for the first time for Lille he played against Bruges in a friendly game and he took the ball and dribbled past five or six opponents and had the capacity to stay with and make control on the ball to give a very good ball for the striker.
“This capacity and ability to stay after his dribble and to take the situation and to take the good resolution is fantastic but it was the same at 16. He has stayed the same.
Place your faith in the power of creation at St Mary’s this afternoon.
Southampton created one solitary shot on target against Sunderland in midweek - praise be it turned out to be a worldie or they’d still be playing.
Saints shocking shots-per-goal stats make every game a kind of purgatory, but visitors Chelsea’s creative powers look born-again – and 16/5 (Coral) the Blues ‘win to nil’ is an answer to our prayers.
Gary Cahill’s a fun longshot at 12/1 (Hills) ’anytime scorer’ – he’s already scored in three of six aways this season.
Awaydays are a welcome change of scene for West Ham . Thanks to bloopery Boris Johnson’s blundering, everyone knew the Hammers would be coining it at the London Stadium, just not quite so literally.
Both sides recent results look slightly out of step with their form.
West Ham’s ‘upswing’ has come against weak or weakened sides
Everton’s ‘slump’ only really exists on paper, but 4/5 the home win is too short for me. Take the DRAW at 3/1 (Fred).
| Southampton team news: Chelsea (H) | Southampton manager Claude Puel has handed out the latest squad news ahead of today’s clash with Chelsea at … 30-10-2016 |
| Who’s the dangerman? Chelsea (H) | Southampton host Chelsea today at St.Mary’s as they look to move up in the Premier League table. The Saints are … 30-10-2016 |
| Southampton v Chelsea: Predicting the Saints | Southampton host Chelsea today at St.Mary’s as they look to continue their impressive form in recent weeks. The … 30-10-2016 |
Liverpool have been linked with a move for ANOTHER Southampton star.
This time it’s the turn of full-back Sam McQueen, as the Sun report that the Reds will duke it out with Leicester for the 21-year-old who has impressed for Saints recently after being drafted into the first team.
With only 18 months left on his contract there are doubts over his future on the south coast, while Liverpool are actively on the look-out for a new left-back following Alberto Moreno’s struggles this season.
McQueen has played in Saints last four games owing to a defensive injury crisis and has received rave reviews for his impressive performances.
Jurgen Klopp conceded he was a ‘very happy man’ after Liverpool dispatched Crystal Palace 4-2 at Selhurst Park, but still found time to criticise the Reds’ performance, writes MirrorFootball’s Jack Rathbourn .
Goals from Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino eventually saw Liverpool ease home despite a number of defensive errors making for a thrilling contest.
Klopp appeared to single out his Croatian centre-back, who was at fault for both of James McArthur goals, and also demanded his team start more aggressively.
“In the first 15 minutes we were not really at 100 per cent, I was not too happy,” Klopp claimed. "It looked like childish football, but no greed, no direction.
Liverpool are on fire, and continued their title charge with a madcap 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, writes Row Zed’s Mark Jones .
In a crazy game full of goals, incident and Dejan Lovren , there was barely any time to breathe in a manic first half, before the Reds took control in the second period.
And when they sealed the game thanks to Roberto Firmino’s chipped finish, Reds fans saw a familiar sight.
As Firmino and fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho did a samba dance to celebrate the goal, Sadio Mane - of Senegal, where the samba isn’t famous - once again joined in by COPYING them.
Crystal Palace 2-4 Liverpool player ratings: Who was YOUR man of the match at Selhurst Park?
In the video above, Xabi Alonso reveals he still watches former club Liverpool and gives his verdict on Jurgen Klopp , writes MirrorFootball’s Thomas Bristow .
The Spanish midfielder spent five years with the Reds and won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and FA Community Shield during his time.
But despite leaving the club some seven years ago, Alonso still holds the side in great regard.
The Spaniard spent all five years under countryman Rafael Benitez but since 2010, Liverpool have had four managers.