Southampton – West Ham United

The hosts are better prepared for serious matches at the start of the season.

The fate of Southampton in the past season was both tragic and cinematic. The Saints spent the first half of the season in the Championship in the lower half of the table until they handed the reins to the young and talented Tonda Eckert. The coaching wunderkind immediately transformed Southampton's style of play and propelled the club to the top of the table. However, too much was missed in the first part of the season, and as a result the Saints managed to secure only a solid place in the playoff zone. There, the tragic denouement of the football year for Eckert and his players unfolded. After reaching the semi-finals, the EFL's disciplinary bodies caught The Saints spying on their opponent and disqualified the club from the playoffs. Into the new season, Southampton began with the same ambitions, but for Championship clubs the start of the season is always accompanied by some instability. Eckert and the club's management managed to preserve the backbone of the squad, having lost only Shi Charles, who moved to Fulham for a substantial €30.4 million. At the same time, Southampton managed to bolster the squad quite noticeably. In goal, the club brought in Daniel Peretz, signed from Bayern. In attack they brought in Kaila Larin, who scored a goal in all three official Saints matches this season, and they also loaned from Manchester City Divin Mubamu, who scored in the previous round of the Championship against Stoke City. Additionally, on the left wing they signed Lewis Dobbin, who is getting playing time in every Southampton match. Overall, Eckert's squad looks cohesive and ready for serious achievements. West Ham United have fallen to the Championship this season. The London club has long been out of touch with the realities of the second-tier division, and as a result it is struggling to adapt to the Championship. On Saturday, the Hammers managed to lose at home to Charlton, who last season played in League One. Overall, West Ham has the most expensive squad in the Championship, which suggests their results will stabilize. However, the meeting in Southampton will take place at a time in the season when the London club is not yet ready for serious matches. Let's bet on the home team.