Wow. This game is finally heating up.

It was a silly foul from Virgil van Dijk, and that won't have done much to repair his relationship with the Saints fans.

But the Stoke supporters won't be raving about Saido Berahino either. He's looked lively but with a perfect opportunity to break his duck, he fires his penalty into the hands of Fraser Forster.

Basically a pantomime here in Stoke.

No.

Saido Berahino's wait for his first Stoke goal continues.

It's a strong save from Fraser Forster down to his left.

It could have been two in two minutes for Stoke...

Image source, Reuters

It's all falling apart for Southampton.

I praised Virgil van Dijk as the best man on the park, but it was a curse.

He pulls down Saido Berahino, can he score the penalty?

Image source, Getty Images

Virgil van Dijk has been the best player on the park this afternoon by an absolute mile.

Joe Allen lines up a shot from the edge of the area, but the Dutchman gets in a crucial block to deflect the ball out for a corner.

He's been everywhere.

Here are those soggy flags at the bet365 stadium.

The fans here have gone slightly quiet, Stoke have been restricted to efforts on the counter-attack so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Mame Biram Diouf is back on the field, just in time for a Saints corner.

It's flicked away and Steven Davis picks it up on the right side.

But his ball is cut out by Darren Fletcher who fires a long ball up to Xherdan Shaqiri.

Fraser Forster though comes half-way up the pitch to beat him to it. Speed.

It's been all Southampton so far but Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has another great shot but he's once again denied by Fraser Forster.

The two England goalkeepers have started well.

And there's a stoppage. Joe Allen, in typical Joe Allen fashion, takes the legs of Dusan Tadic and he gets a yellow.

But worryingly Mame Biram Diouf is down for the home side. It looks like an injury to his shoulder? Could be the way he fell after the tackle from Tadic.

Stoke have all 11 men inside their own half, and they're at home remember.

Saints have them pinned back as Nathan Redmond is hauled down by Darren Fletcher on the edge of the box.

No free-kick but Saints get the ball back, until it's wasted by Ryan Bertrand who puts a poor cross into the box.

Another good chance for Saints but Jack Butland is off his line quickly to deny Shane Long, who was being played onside by Kurt Zouma.

Brilliant save from Butland. Saints pressing here.

Joe Allen looks to be in but the angle is tight and he cuts the ball inside to the waiting Xherdan Shaqiri.

But there is England left-back Ryan Bertrand to cut the ball out.

Great play by the hosts.

Saido Berahino gives a knowing look to Virgil van Dijk, who's rolling around on the floor, apparently in agony.

The Saints defender gets up, he's fine, but Berahino can have no complaints about the foul.

He went right through the back there, not even a shade of the ball.

Xherdan Shaqiri is the closest to breaking the deadlock with a snap shot inside the area but it's parried well by Fraser Forster and the rebound doesn't quite fall for Mame Biram Diouf.

Southampton look rattled by that.

After a bright start for Stoke, Saints are enjoying a good period of possession. But not much is happening out there.

Southampton are struggling to create anything with their possession as Maya Yoshida's pass sails out.

Mario Lemina, who arrived from Juventus over the summer, eventually takes a long-range shot but that's not troubling Jack Butland.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton have their first real effort of the afternoon.

Dusan Tadic plucks a high ball out of the air and he's in behind former Spurs defender Kevin Wimmer, but his first touch lets him down and the ball rolls out for a goal kick.

Kurt Zouma has a ridiculous shot from nearer the half-way line than the box.

It's blocked, of course, and it's that man Virgil van Dijk again.

The Dutch centre-back is certainly showing why Liverpool were so interested in him over the summer.

I won't mention that again this afternoon...

Not sure if I can continue to type Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting all afternoon.

He's Stoke's top scorer so far this season though, with two goals.

It seems likely he'll be mentioned more than once.

And the home side have started well. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has the first shot of the afternoon which is blocked by Virgil van Dijk. A decent first intervention from him, that'll help his relationship with the fans.

From the corner, the ball comes out to Joe Allen on the edge of the box, but the Welshman can't keep the ball down.

Good start from Stoke.

Stoke get us under way...

Image source, Getty Images

So Mark Hughes' defensive injury crisis has eased slightly. Virgil van Dijk makes his first start since January and Saido Berahino is back in the starting XI. But can he bag his first Stoke goal?

Southampton have been woeful in front of goal so far this season, with only one goal from open play. Will they continue to fire blanks?

Let's find out...