Summary

  • Southampton have failed to score in eight of their last 11 Premier League matches, including two games this season

  • Watford could remain unbeaten in their opening four games of a top-flight season for the first time

  • No Virgil van Dijk for Southampton, debut for Wesley Hoedt

  • Troy Deeney again on the bench for Watford

  1. How they standpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 9 September 2017

    So a place in the top four is potentially up for grabs today. This is how things stand in the Premier League after Manchester City's 5-0 thrashing of Liverpool in the early game.

    Premier LeagueImage source, .
    Premier LeagueImage source, .
  2. The season so farpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 9 September 2017

    Five points from Mauricio Pellegrino's first three games in charge of Southampton, although he will be concerned with their firepower. In two league games, and also in a 2-0 home defeat by Wolves in the second round of the EFL Cup, the Saints have failed to score.

    SouthamptonImage source, .

    Watford finished just one place above the relegation zone last season so to be unbeaten in the Premier League with five points from three games is a pretty decent introduction to life at the Hornets for boss Marco Silva.

    Like Southampton, Watford were also dumped out of the EFL Cup in the second round by lower-division opposition, losing 3-2 at home to Championship side Bristol City.

    WatfordImage source, .
  3. Team newspublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 9 September 2017

    Southampton v Watford (15:00 BST)

    There is still no recall for Southampton club captain Virgil van Dijk, although there is a debut for another Dutch defender, Wesley Hoedt, after his £15m move to the Saints from Lazio in August.

    There are also starts for James Ward-Prowse and Sofiane Boufal with Maya Yoshida, Dusan Tadic and Mario Lemina dropping to the bench.

    Southampton: Forster, Soares, Hoedt, Stephens, Bertrand, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Boufal, Redmond, Gabbiadini. Subs: McCarthy, Yoshida, Long, Austin, Tadic, Lemina, McQueen.

    SouthamptonImage source, .

    Watford make three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Brighton as Younes Kaboul, Jose Holebas and Andre Carillo start but deadline day signings Marvin Zeegelaar and Molla Wague are not included in the squad.

    Watford: Gomes, Holebas, Kabasele, Kaboul, Femenia, Doucoure, Cleverley, Chalobah, Carrillo, Richarlison, Gray. Subs: Karnezis, Deeney, Success, Mariappa, Watson, Janmaat, Capoue.

    WatfordImage source, .
  4. Thanks for joining uspublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 9 September 2017

    Hello and welcome to BBC Sport's live text commentary from the Premier League game between Southampton and Watford.

    I'm Michael Emons and I will be guiding you through all the action from St Mary's.

    There's no time to waste so let's crack on with the team news.

  5. Similar startspublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 9 September 2017

    New managers for the beginning of the season, and unbeaten from their first three league games - it has been very similar starts to the campaign for both Southampton and Watford.

    Five points from three games each and another win today could take one of these sides into the top four.

    SouthamptonImage source, .