Southampton

Image source, Getty Images

• Southampton have ended a 22-game winless run in the Premier League, with this their first win in the top-flight since March 2023 against Leicester.

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The overwhelming feeling as the full-time whistle blew at St Mary's was one of relief - and now Russell Martin will hope the confidence this breakthrough victory should bring can kick-start Saints' season.

Praise from Pep Guardiola is all well and good, but the pressure to translate pleasing football in to points was increasing after Saints equalled their longest winless run from the beginning of a league campaign with defeat at the champions last week.

The end of a 22-game winless run in the Premier League. A first win in the top-flight since March 2023. Off the bottom of the table.

This will undoubtedly feel like a significant weight lifted as Southampton aim to mount a meaningful survival challenge following promotion, with another key meeting to come against Wolves next week.

Martin will believe this result shows his decision to persevere with his principles in the face of adversity is beginning to bear fruit, and can lead to the club achieving its target this season.

But now his side must back it up to build momentum before the international break, following which they face Liverpool, Brighton, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton’s performance, external

What did you make of Everton’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 10 he takes on The Piano TV series winner Brad Kella.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Everton's late equaliser against Fulham helped get me a predictions win last week, and I am going for another 1-1 draw this time too.

The way both teams approach the game is interesting. Sean Dyche's side have got the nous and are streetwise, while Southampton are viewed by many as being naive and playing fantasy football, with their style of play under Russell Martin.

You look at the games that Saints have thrown away - like they did against Leicester and Ipswich - and you feel like Dyche will have hope on Saturday even if his side are trailing late on.

I really enjoyed seeing Dyche put centre-half Michael Keane up as a makeshift centre-forward to mix things up against Fulham, and his Everton team never lie down, which is why I think they will get something out of this game too.

Brad's prediction: 2-0

Southampton to win, no doubt about this one!

Read the full predictions and have your say

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Arsenal - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Manchester City

• Ipswich v Leicester

• Liverpool v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v West Ham

• Southampton v Everton

• Wolves v Crystal Palace - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Southampton player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Dusan Tadic.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The players have "pretty much recovered" from the illness which was sweeping through the club. Ryan Fraser is the only doubt for this weekend after coming off early in the Carabao Cup win: "We will have to assess him again in the morning. He trained a little bit today, but we will have to see if he is available."

• There was "a level of pride" after the display in Saints' defeat at Manchester City last weekend, and "a really good feeling" after the midweek victory against Stoke City.

• He feels his players have been "fighting" and "competitive", despite still not picking up a win in the Premier League this season: "We haven't felt like we have come away with what we should have, but we have to make sure we put things right. It is a long old season and we have been so competitive and so close. We just need to see one through now - that will help us hugely."

• Everton's five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League has "changed things dramatically for them" and Martin is "really confident" his side is capable of going on a similar run of form. He added: "It has to start somewhere, so hopefully that is tomorrow."

• On taking on Sean Dyche's side: "They are in a really good place. They have found a bit of rhythm. They have a manager with so much experience, and a team that is really well organised and good at what they do. I think it is going to be difficult. The challenge for us is to play how we want to play, but they definitely don't make that easy."

• He added: "We have to try to win the game. The situation we are in is so frustrating, but we have a lot of time to put it right and grow. This game, and the Wolves game, are huge for us. We want to get our first win, get some points, and improve where we are in the table."

• On his relationship with the owners after a difficult start to the campaign: "The owners have been brilliant. Everyone has been so supportive. I don't think people understand how close we are. I think there's a level of respect between us all. We are having to do things differently here - we can't spend loads of money - so we will keep trying to do it in our way until I'm told I'm not required to try any more."

• Adam Lallana is an "amazing character" and Martin is "really happy" with the relationship he has formed with the veteran midfielder: "He asks me lots of questions, I ask him lots of questions. I think we need that experience in the team right now. Adam has a lot of voice on the pitch and off the pitch, so he is a big part of what we're doing."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Guess the former Southampton player from their Premier League statistics at the club:

• Years at club: 2014-2018

• National team: Serbia

• Position: Midfielder

• Appearances: 134

• Goals: 20

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

The bottom six teams in the Premier League all play one another on Saturday and with the way the season has gone so far, those fixtures are going to be big.

Winning these games and earning three points could at the end of the season be called the six-pointers.

When I played for Reading and we were fighting down the bottom of the league, these are the fixtures that we looked for because they are must-win games.

I am not sure Crystal Palace would have targeted these at the start of the season because they would have expected to have been higher in the league, but the newly promoted teams will have.

Wolves probably need the win the most because they wouldn't have expected to be second from bottom after nine games and they need to start picking up results.

It is a little bit more difficult for the promoted teams because they are still trying to adapt to the Premier League.

I don't think these results will necessarily define any team's season - as it so early on - but winning helps to break the rut and sometimes it becomes difficult for teams to know how to win when they aren't.

For all of these teams something has to adapt at some stage. You have to find a way to win a game, even if it is scruffy, and especially against those teams that are in and around you.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Image source, Getty Images

The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup quarter finals, with eight Premier League clubs having made it through.

For the first time in 14 years it is an all Premier League quarter-final line-up, with ties including Tottenham hosting Manchester United and holders Liverpool travelling to Southampton.

Matches are scheduled to take place the week commencing 17 December.

All the fixtures are shown below:

Tottenham v Manchester United

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Newcastle United v Brentford

Southampton v Liverpool

Find reaction to the draw here

In the latest Saints and Sinners podcast from BBC Radio Solent, Tom Deacon is joined by Youtuber Max Fosh to chat fantasy football tactics.

Toffees fan and taxi driver to the stars, Phil, will also be joining to help preview a huge game against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Adam Blackmore reflects on another win in the Carabao Cup and chats about who Manchester United should appoint as their new manager.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton's Russell Martin believes he has learnt as much as a manager this season as he has in any previous campaign.

The Saints have only picked up one point in the Premier League this season, but qualified for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Championship side Stoke 3-2 on Tuesday.

Southampton host Everton on Saturday and ahead of that fixture, Martin said: "I'm learning all the time - I think I've learnt as much this season than I have done in any other season and we're nine games in, so I'm enjoying that side of it.

"We tried to put into play everything we've learnt so far this season on Saturday (against Manchester City) and the players did it amazingly well.

"For us, the challenge and the learning is about trying to remain who we want to be and trying to improve and be better at that and grow under the big spotlight and scrutiny. Then the rest will take care of itself and I'll be fine and comfortable with whatever happens.

"I really believe in this group. I really believe in what we're doing and now we have to put it on the pitch on Saturday."

Tuesday's Carabao Cup victory required an 88th-minute winner from defender James Bree and Martin wanted to avoid criticising his players - after admitting he made an error last season when he did.

"I want the performance to be better," he said after Tuesday's win, before adding: "I made a mistake last year: we beat Watford at home [in April] when we were 2-0 up and went 2-2 and then Flynn [Downes] scored in the 94th minute and I went to town on the players after the game.

"I think it surprised a lot of them because we managed to win the game, so I learnt my lesson from that, because we didn't win after that.

"I think it affected us a little bit."

Former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem believes despite beating Stoke in what he described as a "horrendous football game", the Saints got the result they needed to progress to the last eight of the Carabao Cup.

Speaking on the latest Goin' Home with Adam and Jo podcast from BBC Radio Solent, Tessem said: "We got the one thing we definitely needed - a win.

"That's all you need - you will take that when you are in the situation you are in now.

"It was a horrendous football game, boring at times, but we won it - that's the positive."

He continued: "Stoke were hardly threatening us, but when they did, they scored. That's the worrying sign. It's so confusing - why do we concede so many goals? I don't get it - it's really weird.

"We had a strong back four and they must be thinking 'what is going on here?' We keep making schoolboy mistakes, when you make them once, they shouldn't be happening again."

Tessem was also asked if he thought that any of the players that came into the team gave Russell Martin a selection headache going into Saturday's Premier League game at home to Everton, and he replied: "Ruthlessly, I think no - I don't think anyone stood out."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Carabao Cup game between Southampton and Stoke City.

Here are some of your comments:

Daz: A lucky win. If that was a Premier League side then it would have been a different story but nethertheless a win is a win. Saints need to plug their defence, as yet again they throw away a two goal lead. They get complacent and switch off which has cost them games before.

Henry: Same old story. Sideways passing and lack the creativity to break down opponents. No plan B and weak at the back when pressed, which wasn’t often but we nearly managed to lose the game somehow!

G: Absolutely embarrassing to be a Saints fan.

Ray: Saints won but should never have given away two goals. We were far too slow in the build up and had no threat in attack. If it wasn't for a goal-line clearance we could have easily lost. Stoke got their chances and had two shots on target and two goals. Saints just not good enough in my opinion. I've been a supporter all my life. This is a poor squad.

Andrew: Dire. Scraped through by the skin of our teeth playing unadventurous Russball.

Jovimac: We were awful. Passing to nowhere with no cutting edge. No one was prepared to take on the opposition. In all my years as a Saints fan I couldn’t be more disappointed. We only just managed to beat Stoke and if it hadn't have been for a goal-line clearance we might have lost.

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

With 35 minutes on the clock, things couldn't have been going any better for Southampton.

Two goals ahead against Championship side Stoke in a last 16 Carabao Cup tie, it seemed like a much-needed victory was on the cards.

However, Stoke scored twice to bring the home side back down to earth and they Million Manhoef almost bundled the ball across the line to give Stoke a late lead but Sugawara slid in on the line to produce a vital interception.

Minutes later, James Bree scored the winner to send Southampton through to the quarter-finals of the competiton.

The crowd would have been fearing the worst after their last home match when they were 2-0 up against Leicester City and went on to lose 3-2 but this time they managed to hang on.

It is Southampton's first win in any competition since they beat Everton 6-5 on penalties in the third round last month and Martin will hope it gives his side confidence before they face Sean Dyche's team again at the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Russell Martin speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the Saints qualifying for the next round:

"It should have been easier than what it was, we were so dominant in the first-half and should have gone in 2-0 up, so I'm a bit annoyed at that.

"By the time I left the stands we were 2-0 up and it was 2-1 by the time I got down so I was annoyed and frustrated.

"But I really liked the performance on the whole in the first-half. The final choice in terms of pass, cross or finish wasn't there. We could have made more of that but we gave them something to hold on to which changed the context of the game."

On opponents Stoke: "They defended with big numbers and caught us in a moment on a counter-attack and nearly did again later on in the game.

"So the boys came through the moment in adversity and we won the game with some quality from [James] Bree."

On his side's performance: "So many players on the pitch haven't been on there recently, so we have to take into consideration that a lot of players are playing with each other for the first time in a long time.

"I'm really pleased with the character within the group, I learnt a lot about some individuals tonight and we got through it. At the start of the night, it was all about winning the game. It's not easy the cup, you have to respect it."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton’s performance, external

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

Two games are being played in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, with Premier League clubs Southampton and Brentford both hoping to avoid upsets by Championship opposition and secure places in the quarter-finals.

• Southampton v Stoke City (19:45 GMT)

• Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday (20:00 GMT) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Follow all of the action and reaction

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Eight losses from nine, one point and pinned to the foot of the table. It has not been fun for us Saints fans this season. Serious questions are still being raised on the tenure of Russell Martin, but actually, we have plenty of positives from the latest defeat at Manchester City.

OK, it was another loss. It was supposed to be. But after conceding inside five minutes against the defending champions in their own back yard, you could be forgiven in thinking this could be another total collapse and set for a long afternoon. Instead, we battled bravely and even came close to levelling.

Such was the case against Arsenal, a game that saw us unexpectedly take the lead at Emirates Stadium and give us all hope for an unlikely upset. We eventually came unstuck 3-1.

Martin was given another much-needed boost after the latest result against another title challenger. Defensively, we looked capable of competing with the best, and looked like a Premier League side once again. Martin switched to three central defenders and welcomed back Jack Stephens following his five-game suspension.

It was not just defensive improvements. We showed desire with the ball, stayed with them until the end, had 64% tackle success and left with the best passing stats at Etihad Stadium since the start of last season with 434 accurate passes (91%).

We also received glowing responses from City's Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva, the latter remarking: "I have watched them and they have deserved more points than they have."

Martin responded: "This is one of the toughest places to come in the world. I have nothing but pride and gratitude for the players today because if we're going to lose, we need to lose in our way."

It is the response that will matter. We did not respond following Arsenal. If we do not build on the positives from City, then it will be all in vain. Nothing short of six points against Everton and Wolves will do.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Image source, PA Media

More from Southampton manager Russell Martin, speaking on a special episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "I did my first badge at 17 in college and I coached on a Saturday morning.

"I often think career coaches who skipped playing can figure out what works, what doesn't, what they like and what age group they want to specialise in. I missed that, but I was playing and getting real experience in other areas that I can now relate to players.

"My coaching bits had come from coaching kids at Norwich's academy and I remember I was hammered on the team bus when I had my laptop out doing courses."

On if he knew he would have a successful playing career: "I never felt that comfortable, it sounds crazy. It was my third season at Wycombe where Paul Lambert came in and the first few games he basically slaughtered me in front of everyone and said 'you'll never play for me' and I got converted into a right-back, which I never played, and then I played every game for two years from that point and was used as a utility player, since I played every position.

"Paul then left and I went to Peterborough, then Norwich back with Paul. So much of football is timing and opportunity and who knows - without Paul I wouldn't have got to where I got to, but I'd like to think I repaid the faith he showed me and we had a great time and went to the Premier League together."

Listen to more on BBC Sounds