Image source, Reu

One player absent from the Aston Villa ranks this afternoon is midfielder Jack Grealish. He is continuing to be made to train with the club's Under-21s following reports he visited a Manchester nightclub , external after a 4-0 defeat at Everton recently.

"He has trained this week with the under-21s because it was the plan," said Villa boss Remi Garde. "He knew that. I know when he might return, he knows as well and when he will I will tell you.

"Like every player Jack made a mistake and he has to pay the consequences for that. If another player does something wrong he will have the same treatment. 

"Jack is young and will be back because when he is fully committed in his job he will be a good player."

Villa boss Remi Garde is already up out of his seat and looking concerned. He's gesticulating for his players to close down their opponents as his defence has started the game all over the shop.

It's taken Southampton just two minutes to create two glorious chances. Sadio Mane cuts the ball back for Duan Tadic to send a shot over, while Tadic then crosses for Graziano Pelle to sidefoot over from close range. Not looking good for Villa...

Southampton are in their red and white striped home kit, while Villa are in a strikingly bright yellow as we get under way...

Aston Villa will not be able to claw their way out of relegation trouble, reckons former Scotland international Pat Nevin.

“Villa are in a relegation crisis and I will be surprised if they get out of this," he told 5 live Sport on Friday.

"That's because of the lack of belief in the group and because they have been in a slow gradual decline for a while. If you are in that long enough it catches you."

Former Aston Villa midfielder Andy Townsend, speaking on Friday's 5 live Sport, on the club's current plight: "Seeing Villa where they are is absolute desperate. I think they need some guidance and Tim Sherwood needed time, not necessarily pockets of money. I wouldn't have got rid of Tim. Remi Garde has got an impossible job."

The players walk out and go through their pre-match handshakes as we appraoch the big KO...

Villa will not have fond memories of the league game at St Mary's last May as they were on the end of a 6-1 hiding.

The match also witnessed Southampton forward Sadio Mane scoring the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history in two minutes and 56 seconds.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AP

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde wants a more tigerish attitude from his players as he aims to steer them off the bottom of the top-flight table.

"It's my job to make them stronger and more committed and more involved," he said. "I have to show the way, I'm a guide.

"We need to improve and work as a team to defend but that's not only the back four. It's everywhere.

"I'm not saying that everything is perfect with the tactics but if you look at the goals we concede, the desire to win the ball must be stronger."

Image source, AP

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman could change his system for the visit of Aston Villa following his side's 6-1 hammering by Liverpool in the League Cup on Wednesday.

"In the last few weeks - one of our qualities, we know we can play good football, the start was fantastic, we can create, we can score - but the balance at the moment between attacking and defending is poor, is really poor," he said.

"That's my responsibility. Maybe we have to change the system, maybe we have to play more defensively, more back, waiting. I don't like that, because I'm a manager who likes to go forward, but we will will speak about that with the players what's the best to do to prepare ourselves for this Saturday.

"We need a good reaction. The pressure is on this Saturday. After the defeat and the high score, it's different."

Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator at St Mary's Stadium

"If Southampton fans are feeling a bit sorry for themselves after the crushing League Cup defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday, they should spare a thought for their counterparts from the West Midlands.

"Supporting Villa has been challenging for a few seasons now but even the most optimistic Holte End regular will find it difficult to present a decent argument on how Remi Garde can formulate a rescue plan.

"The squad don't seem to possess enough quality, belief or desire to escape relegation.

"Already seven points adrift of safety, Villa have lost six successive away games since their opening-day victory at Bournemouth.

"They left the south coast that day with hopes raised but I doubt the trip home will be similarly enjoyable this time."

Southampton make two changes from the team that lost 6-1 to Liverpool in midweek. Jose Fonte is back in defence after a cut leg, while James Ward-Prowse starts in midfield instead of Jordy Clasie.   

Image source, BBC Sport

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde makes two enforced changes at the back, with Jores Okore and Joleon Lescott replacing the injured Micah Richards and suspended Ciaran Clark. Leandro Bacuna also comes in for Kieran Richardson at left-back while Rudy Gestede replaces Carles Gil.   

Image source, BBC Sport

Aston Villa are having a miserable time this season. While the team is propping up the Premier League, their fans are also bottom of the BBC Sport Predictor league. Southampton supporters are only faring marginally better, however, in 15th position. You can change all that now by predicting the outcome of this match and the rest of the weekend’s fixtures here.

If you are looking for two teams out of form then St Mary's is the place to be.

Southampton were walloped 6-1 by Liverpool in the League Cup on Wednesday on the back of respective 3-1 and 1-0 league defeats by Manchester City Stoke.

Villa. Well, they're in big trouble. They have gone 13 league games without a win and their tally of one point from their last 10 matches is five fewer than any other Premier League club has earned over the same period.

Will Saints bounce back? Can Villa give turn around their sinking ship? Let's find out...

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to our live page for Southampton v Aston Villa. We’ll have text commentary here from 14:30 GMT. You can keep up to date with all the build-up to today’s games here.