Alex Scott
Former England and Arsenal defender on Football Focus

In the Premier League it’s hard because everyone wants instant results, but especially with teams like Southampton you need time.

You need to invest in a manager who brings in his philosophy. If you look at RB Leipzig - high press, tempo - he’s implementing that at Southampton.

They’re so organised and hard to beat.

It will be really interesting to see how Villa respond to that defeat to Leeds against the Saints today, not just because of the check it pout on their early season optimism but because Ralph Hasenhuttl's side are also a high-pressing, high energy side capable of picking them off.

We may well get an insight into just how much and how quickly this Villa side have learnt from their last result.

Ten points after six games represents Southampton's best to a season since 2014. Their tally of 12 top-flight wins in 2020 is bettered only by Liverpool and Manchester City.

All hail Ralph Hasenhuttl. Ther Saints boss has won 13 away fixtures in the Premier League, which is just one behind Ronald Koeman's club record tally.

And his average of 1.42 points per away game in the Premier League is the best ratio of any Southampton manager.

The defeat to Leeds spoiled the perfect start and prevented Villa winning their first five league games of a campaign for the very first time.

But they can still win five of their opening six matches of a top-flight season for a third time today, emulating 1906-07 and 1930-31.

As a sign of just how far they have progressed in a short space of time, their fifth league victory last season didn't come until their 19th fixture, on Boxing Day.

Villa are, of course, coming into this game after their 100% winning start to the league season was ruthlessly ended by Leeds at Villa Park. They'll be very keen to show that result to be an aberration in what has been an otherwise superb beginning to 2020-21, after they were almost relegated last season.

However, they come into this game winless in the past seven Premier League meetings with the Saints and have conceded 16 goals in the last five.

In fact, Southampton could earn four consecutive league wins against Aston Villa for the first time since August 1989. The Saints can match their longest Premier League unbeaten away run against one team, which stands at six matches against both Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace.

Anon: Spurs have had a few. Eric Dier against West Spam, Moussa Dembele, Steven Bergwijn.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton and holders Manchester City will contest the 50th Women's FA Cup final on Sunday, live on BBC One.

The game will be played without any fans at Wembley, amid ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, as the delayed 2019-20 competition reaches a conclusion.

Both clubs are aiming to lift the trophy for the third time.

The Toffees are in their first final since 2014 and last won the cup in 2010, while City have won both their previous finals, in 2017 and 2019.

If you're keen to look a bit further afield for your football entertainment today, you've got both Old Firm sides in action in Scotland - Rangers in the league against Kilmarnock and Celtic facing Aberdeen in the last four of the cup.

Bit thin on the ground as regards quality fixtures across Europe, with very little going on in Germany and Spain, although Real Sociedad will go top of La Liga if they beat Celta Vigo.

Speaking of La Liga, in case you missed it Barcelona failed to win for the fourth successive La Liga game after being held by 10-man Alaves yesterday. Bad times.

In France, it is Angers v Nice. Depends what side of the bed you got out of this morning, I guess.

Off the back of Nathaniel Phillips' impressive league debut for Liverpool last night, why not get in touch and send us your memorable debut memories?

Now, you can remind us of some of the ones you witnessed live in a stadium, but what we're really after is your own tales - and let's be fair, the worse they are, the better.

Did you have an absolute shocker making your bow for the school team? Own goals galore when you first turned out for the Sunday League side? Maybe you soiled yourself on your 5-a-side debut?

Contact us using the hashtag #bbcfootball on Twitter or on text on 81111 (UK only).

Liverpool's win also showcased a pretty solid league debut from centre-back Nathaniel Phillips, who you can read more about here.

His manager Jurgen Klopp was impressed too...

This afternoon, Everton have the chance to reclaim top spot in the Premier League. The reason they're not still top is because their Merseyside rivals Liverpool were able to come from behind to beat West Ham at Anfield thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.

Here is what our Match of the Day pundits had to say about the game...

Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho is set to rotate his squad after describing Spurs' performance in the midweek Europa League defeat as poor.

Eric Dier and Tanguy Ndombele are expected to be fit after being rested for Thursday's game as a precaution.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is banned and forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh is out with a hamstring problem.

Midfielder Davy Propper has a slim chance of featuring after returning from an Achilles injury.

Danny Welbeck could make his first appearance for the club. He was an unused substitute for Monday's draw with West Brom.

Manchester United defender Alex Telles has tested positive for Covid-19 and so misses the game while he self-isolates.

Anthony Martial, who scored his first goal of the season against RB Leipzig on Thursday, serves the final match of a three-game ban.

Arsenal's David Luiz is set to miss out because of a thigh injury sustained during Sunday's defeat by Leicester.

Manager Mikel Arteta will bring back a host of first-team regulars who were rested for Thursday's win over Dundalk.

Newcastle captain Jamal Lascelles is a doubt for Sunday's game because of a foot injury.

Brothers Sean and Matty Longstaff are now fit, and fellow midfielder Isaac Hayden is also in contention after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Injured Everton playmaker James Rodriguez will miss out and club captain Seamus Coleman is still sidelined by a hamstring strain.

Jonjoe Kenny and Jarrad Branthwaite are in contention after ankle injuries.

Lucas Digne and Richarlison are serving suspensions for red cards.

Now we've had the team news for the first game, here is the early chat on today's other three matches...

Mark Lawrenson
Ex-Liverpool defender

The more I see of Southampton, the more I like them. They were excellent against Everton and put in a really good team performance.

They dealt with everything and stopped Everton from playing but they also looked lively up front. Che Adams and Nathan Redmond are a handful, and then you have Danny Ings, who scores for fun but works so hard with it.

This should be a good game but Leeds' intensity proved a bit too much for Aston Villa last time out, and I think Saints will edge it.

Prediction: 1-2

Lawro's full predictions v The Rap Game UK judge DJ Target

Aston Villa make one change to the XI that started in the 3-0 defeat by Leeds last week, with attacking midfielder Bertrand Traore coming in for Trezeguet.

Prior to Sunday, manager Dean Smith had only changed his starting line-up once in the Premier League all season.

Aston Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, Watkins, Traore, Targett, Barkley.

Subs: Steer, Hourihane, Trezeguet, Nakamba, Engels, Elmohamady, Davis.

Image source, .

Southampton also make one change. On-loan winger Theo Walcott, ineligible to face his parent club Everton during the 2-0 win last weekend, replaces Nathan Redmond.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Ings, Adams, Armstrong, Walcott, Bednarek.

Subs: Stephens, Long, Redmond, Djenepo, Diallo, N'Lundulu, Forster.

Image source, ..

Manchester United v Arsenal is just one of three Premier League games this Sunday. Before we head to Old Trafford we've got Aston Villa v Southampton, followed by Newcastle v Everton.

Tottenham v Brighton brings up the rear.

Let's dive straight into that first game with some team news...