The average positions don't make pretty viewing for the visitors either.

Image source, Opta

Seven of Sheffield United's players are yet to complete a pass so far.

This is their touch map as it stands...

Image source, .

First really good opening of the game and it unsurprisingly goes to the home side and to Danny Ings specifically. Che Adams does superbly to gather the ball and then thread a ball behind the Blades defence for Ings to latch on to. He has just Ramsdale to beat from a slight angle but the keeper does really well to get out and save. You suspect a sharper Ings would likely have finished that.

So yesterday didn't exactly live up to the hype did it? Arguably the most exciting match of the day, the Manchester derby, was a bit of a damp squib. What's the big game today then, folks? Send us your thoughts, predictions and rants, as ever.

Tweet us on #bbcfootball or give us a text on 81111 - don't forget to stick your names on!

It's all one-way traffic. Attack v defence, with the Blades very much fulfilling the role of the latter. As it stands, Sheffield United have had 12% of possession.

Saints continue to press forward and Oriol Romeu fires an effort wide from range. Not a man famed for his shooting.

It is an odd one Danny, I agree.

One thing the canned crowd noise was unable to capture was the mocking glee that greets a visiting player putting the ball straight out of play. Aaron Ramsdale's wayward kick prompts just that and gives the home side a chance to build an attack that ends with Walcott being muscled out in the penalty area. The Blades having to dig in a bit here.

The home side are bossing possession in these early stages, looking to drop balls behind the visitors defence for Danny Ings and Theo Walcott. One, designed for the latter, just skips away from him.

Oh, it's a smart little move, with Ward-Prowse whipping a low ball towards the penalty spot, that Jan Bednarek charges in to hit but doesn't catch right. Nice idea.

Saints start on the front foot and win an early corner. James Ward-Prowse's time to shine.

I know it has been said plenty of times, but it really does make a difference having actual fans making noise in a ground instead of that robotic drone. We are under way in the rain.

Right then everyone, you ready for some football? The collection of home fans at St Mary's certainly are.

The teams are out on the pitch and our Sunday of Premier League action will be up and running in a sec...

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

When does a bad start to the season become a crisis? It is getting to that stage for Sheffield United now.

The Blades were so close to getting a point against Leicester last weekend, which would have been a huge building block for them, but instead they ended up being beaten again.

The next few weeks are going to be massive for Chris Wilder's side because if they are not careful, they are going to end up being cast adrift.

In contrast, things are going pretty well for Southampton at the moment - the more I see of them, the more impressed I am.

Saints work extremely hard from front to back but it is the movement of their front players that stands out the most. On top of that, Oriol Romeu gives them a proper foundation in midfield and allows their forwards to strut their stuff.

Sheffield United certainly do not lack effort either, though, and they are still competitive. They just don't seem to be able to turn that into chances and goals.

Prediction: 2-0

Lawro's Premier League predictions v Lonely The Brave's Mo Edgeley

Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse is about to make his 243th Premier League appearance for the Saints, moving up to joint-fourth alongside Francis Benali (243) in Southampton's leading Premier League appearance makers.

Any idea who the top three are? I'll give you the answer at half-time.

All is not lost, though. Eight of United's 10 league defeats this season have been by a single-goal margin. So they are in games. They just need someone to step up to the plate and start converting some chances.

I don't want to labour the point, but this situation really is pretty grim for Chris Wilder and his lads...

The Blades have made the second worst start in the history of the English top flight, with only Manchester United having taken fewer points from their opening 11 games (they had zero in 1930-31).

They are winless in 14 league matches dating back to July, losing 13 times - including each of the last six.

Defeat would mean United begin a top-flight campaign with six consecutive away defeats for the first time since the 1975-76 season, when they went on to finish bottom.

I don't want to alarm Sheffield United fans more than they already are, but...

Their team's most recent top-flight win at Southampton was in January 1992. That was at The Dell. I loved that ground.

Saints won both meetings last season and could record three consecutive victories in this fixture for the first time since a four-match sequence in 1950.

It's not tricky to get to the bottom of one of the Blades' main problems...

Image source, .

Well, the weather looks as filthy in Southampton as it does everywhere else this Sunday. A small collection of hardy, fortunate fans don't care, though. They're just glad to be back, even if it means hypothermia.