World News – GB – PL PREVIEW: Southampton v Burnley

The Clarets are back in action after a three-week absence to pick up where they left off

An impressive 2-1 win at Everton before an extended international break brought the Clarets seven points from relegation places to 33 points – alongside their opponents on Sunday

A third win in eight league games – during a run in which they lost only one league – would therefore lift Burnley above the Saints, whose own league form collapsed in 2021

A handful more points would apparently also secure the top status of the Clarets for a sixth season after a test start that earned them just two points from their first seven games

The Clarets’ only defeats in 2021 came five times to their top six opponents, and manager Sean Dyche wants to maintain a common theme for his team over the course of the nine-game run that begins at the St Mary’s Stadium

“Our stats for the second half of the season are pretty good overall and that gives you a better chance of getting what you need,” said Dyche

“So we’re going into these games with a strong mental frame and asking players to deliver the quality to go ahead and win Premier League games”

But striker Ashley Barnes and defender Kevin Long aren’t ready to return, and winger Robbie Brady is on the sidelines after sustaining an Achilles injury on the international playing field

The Saints expect top scorer and former Burnley striker Danny Ings to be back after three games, and ex-Englishman Theo Walcott is set to return as well

Midfielder James Ward-Prowse missed England’s midweek win against Poland with a calf injury but could be fit

The Clarets are back in action after a 2-1 win and a fourth away win of the season at Everton before their extended break

That was Burnley’s first win in six games, but after just one loss in eight league games, Sean Dyche’s men have increased their scores to match Southampton

The Saints moved from first to 14th in early November after just one win – against bottom club Sheffield United – and a draw in their last 12 Premier League games Slipped place

Her last home win came thanks to a Danny Ings winner against Liverpool on Aug. January

But Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team won two consecutive FA Cup games at the St Mary’s Stadium and continued that run to reach the semi-finals, subsequently defeating Wolves and Bournemouth

Southampton won 1-0 at Turf Moor in the Clarets’ first home game of the season in September

Ralph Hasenhüttl, Manager of Southampton: “It’s a big game for both teams because it’s a six-pointer if you want

“A great chance for us to get away from them a bit, and I think it’s the same chance for them

“We know how tough it is against Burnley, we did a fantastic job in the first game against them and we have to do the same job again if we want to take something because it’s not easy

“I very often speak of the good work they do there with a very clear philosophy

“You have a very good, organized way of playing football, with a strong mentality, with good commitment, with good organization, clinically on target, so all the qualities you need to have a competitive and successful Premier League To be a team

“I think that’s what all the opponents who faced them feel when you play Burnley that you don’t get a lot of chances”

Claret’s top scorer, Chris Wood, needs a goal to compete with Ashley Barnes, 41, as Burnley’s top scorer in the Premier League

Defender Erik Pieters could turn 50 Burnley gig
Former Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez stays with 99 career league players Rodriguez scored 26 league goals for the Saints

The Clarets are unbeaten in their last three games at Southampton with two draws and one win

PL