Southampton vs. Fulham Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 26 April 2025 - bettingexpert
Saturday’s Premier League clash at St. Mary’s Stadium between Southampton and Fulham might not be the season’s blockbuster, but it definitely has its significance. With Tony Harrington officiating and Fulham as the bookmakers’ favourites with odds at 1.65 for an away win, the stakes are certainly high.
Southampton, already relegated, sit at the bottom with just 11 points from 33 games. It’s been a challenging season under Simon Rusk, highlighted by their recent 1-1 draw against West Ham. In contrast, Fulham, under Marco Silva, are holding onto 9th place with 48 points. They’ll be looking to bounce back after narrowly losing to Chelsea 2-1.
Interestingly, Southampton has yet to keep a clean sheet in their last five games, conceding heavily. Fulham, though having an inconsistent form of LLWLL, has shown resilience. Expect Fulham to capitalize on Southampton’s vulnerabilities, making a win for the away team our recommended bet.
This match will see experienced players like Paul Onuachu for Southampton and Raul Jimenez for Fulham vying for glory.
Southampton vs Fulham Prediction & Betting Tip
Given the current standings and recent performances, a win for Fulham seems the most likely outcome. Southampton, stuck at the bottom with just 11 points, have struggled throughout the season and have yet to keep a clean sheet in their last five games. On the other hand, Fulham, although inconsistent recently, are in 9th place and have a solid squad to exploit Southampton’s vulnerabilities.
| Southampton vs Fulham Prediction | |
|---|---|
| Betting tip | Odds |
| Fulham to Win | 1.65 |
- Southampton have the weakest competitive record in the Premier League this season.
- Fulham, aiming to capitalize on Southampton’s defensive issues, are likely to secure the win.
- With a higher league position and more points, Fulham have demonstrated a stronger overall performance.
Southampton vs Fulham Odds
When it comes to betting odds for this match, Fulham is the favourite according to bookmakers. Southampton, already relegated and struggling this season, has unfavourable odds.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the betting odds:
| Southampton vs Fulham Betting Odds | |
|---|---|
| Bet | Odds |
| Southampton | 4.99 |
| Draw | 4.01 |
| Fulham | 1.65 |
Fulham’s better form and stronger squad make them likely candidates for victory. Southampton has found it tough this season, reflected in their high odds for a win. If Fulham can exploit Southampton’s defensive issues, they should comfortably secure all three points.
With both teams conceding in the closing stages of matches, a high-scoring game could be in the cards.
Southampton Team Analysis
Southampton Recent Performance
Southampton’s recent form has been less than stellar, reflecting their overall struggles this season. With the team rooted at the bottom of the Premier League and already confirmed for relegation, they’ve managed only 11 points from 33 matches. In their last 5 games, they have failed to secure a win, drawing twice and suffering three defeats.
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham | Southampton | 2025-04-19 | Premier League | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Southampton | Aston Villa | 2025-04-12 | Premier League | 0-3 (Loss) |
| Tottenham | Southampton | 2025-04-06 | Premier League | 3-1 (Loss) |
| Southampton | Crystal Palace | 2025-04-02 | Premier League | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Southampton | Wolverhampton | 2025-03-15 | Premier League | 1-2 (Loss) |
Recent form: LDLLD
Southampton has struggled to find the back of the net, with an average of just 0.80 goals scored in their last 5 games. Defensively, they’ve been poor, conceding frequently, especially near the end of matches. They have yet to keep a clean sheet in their last 5 outings, exacerbating their plight.
Southampton Key Players
Southampton may be struggling this season, but they have a few players worth keeping an eye on. Paul Onuachu is their top scorer with 4 goals. Up front, he’ll likely be joined by Mateus Fernandes and Kamaldeen Sulemana, aiming to exploit any defensive gaps Fulham might leave. Key individual battles will unfold, especially Southampton’s forwards against Fulham’s solid centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey.
Expected lineup for Southampton:
- Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale
- Defenders: Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens
- Midfielders: Kyle Walker-Peters, Flynn Downes, Lesley Ugochukwu, Ryan Manning
- Attackers: Mateus Fernandes, Paul Onuachu, Kamaldeen Sulemana
Keep an eye on how Ryan Manning and Kyle Walker-Peters fare in their midfield roles, particularly in transition plays against Fulham’s agile wingers.
Southampton Suspensions & Injuries
Southampton are dealing with several key injuries ahead of their clash with Fulham, which could significantly impact their performance.
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fraser | Physical discomfort | Doubtful |
| Albert Gronbaek | Strain injury | Early May 2025 |
| Charlie Taylor | Knock injury | Doubtful |
Ryan Fraser and Charlie Taylor are both doubtful, causing a headache for coach Simon Rusk in terms of squad rotation and strategy.
Albert Gronbaek’s strain injury won’t see him return until early May, meaning Southampton will need to find effective replacements in midfield.
These absences might force Southampton to rely on less experienced players to fill the gaps, which could expose vulnerabilities, particularly against Fulham’s attacking capabilities.
Southampton Tactics and Formation
Southampton Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 3-4-2-1
- Key Forward: Paul Onuachu
- Midfield Duo: Flynn Downes, Lesley Ugochukwu
- Wing Play: Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning
Southampton will likely deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, looking to shore up their defense while having a robust presence in the midfield. Paul Onuachu, the team’s top scorer, will be the focal point of their attack. The midfield will be bolstered by Flynn Downes and Lesley Ugochukwu, who will aim to control the tempo and provide support to both the defense and the forwards. Wing-backs Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning will be crucial in transitioning from defense to attack, providing width and crossing opportunities to stretch Fulham’s defense. Despite their positioning woes, Southampton’s tactical focus will be on maintaining a compact shape to minimize gaps, especially in the critical final minutes when they’ve been prone to conceding.
Fulham Team Analysis
Fulham Recent Performance
Fulham’s recent form has been a mixed bag, with one victory and four defeats in their last five matches:
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham | Chelsea | 2025-04-20 | Premier League | 1-2 (Loss) |
| Bournemouth | Fulham | 2025-04-14 | Premier League | 1-0 (Loss) |
| Fulham | Liverpool | 2025-04-06 | Premier League | 3-2 (Win) |
| Arsenal | Fulham | 2025-04-01 | Premier League | 2-1 (Loss) |
| Fulham | Crystal Palace | 2025-03-29 | FA Cup | 0-3 (Loss) |
Fulham has managed to secure just a single win in their last five outings, highlighted by a thrilling 3-2 victory against Liverpool. Despite their fluctuating form, they are averaging 1.00 goal per game and have not kept a clean sheet in their last five matches. The lack of defensive solidity and inconsistency on the pitch has been notable.
These performances reflect the need for improvement if they are to maintain a top-ten position in the Premier League.
Fulham Key Players
Raul Jimenez stands out as Fulham’s top scorer this season with 10 goals. His clinical finishing and presence up front will be a major threat to Southampton’s defence, especially given the Saints’ defensive struggles.
Expected lineup for Fulham:
- Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
- Defenders: Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson
- Midfielders: Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic, Ryan Sessegnon, Andreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi
- Forwards: Raul Jimenez
Keep an eye on Andreas Pereira, who provides creativity in the midfield. His battles with Southampton’s Flynn Downes could be pivotal.
Bernd Leno in goal must sharpen his concentration to help Fulham secure a clean sheet, something they’ve struggled with lately.
Fulham Suspensions & Injuries
Fulham has a few notable injuries that could impact their performance against Southampton.
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Reiss Nelson | Hamstring Injury | Early May 2025 |
| Harry Wilson | Foot injury | Doubtful |
| Rodrigo Muniz | Knock injury | Doubtful |
| Emile Smith Rowe | Muscle injury | Doubtful |
These injuries may pose a challenge to Marco Silva’s squad depth, especially with key players like Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe potentially sidelined. This could lead to adjustments in the lineup and tactics to compensate for the missing players. Fulham will need to rely on the rest of their squad to step up and fill the gaps left by these injured players.
Fulham Tactics and Formation
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
- Defensive Line: Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson
- Midfield Pivot: Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic
- Attacking Trio: Ryan Sessegnon (Right Wing), Andreas Pereira (Attacking Midfielder), Alex Iwobi (Left Wing)
- Key Forward: Raul Jimenez
Fulham’s tactical approach involves utilizing a solid 4-2-3-1 formation. Marco Silva relies on a disciplined back four, with Tete and Robinson offering width and overlapping runs. Berge and Lukic provide defensive solidity and ball distribution from central midfield.
The creative burden falls on Pereira in the attacking midfield role, supported by the pace of Sessegnon and Iwobi on the wings. Jimenez spearheads the attack, looking to capitalize on any defensive lapses from Southampton. This formation aims to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities, especially in the final 15 minutes of the match, where Fulham has often found success.
Southampton vs Fulham Head-to-Head Statistics
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham | Southampton | 2024-12-22 | Premier League | 0-0 |
| Southampton | Fulham | 2023-05-13 | Premier League | 0-2 |
| Fulham | Southampton | 2022-12-31 | Premier League | 2-1 |
| Southampton | Fulham | 2021-05-15 | Premier League | 3-1 |
| Fulham | Southampton | 2020-12-26 | Premier League | 0-0 |
Their last five encounters highlight a mixed bag of results between the two sides. Fulham has managed two wins, Southampton has one victory, and two matches ended in draws. Both teams have had their fair share of goals and defensive struggles in these fixtures, suggesting an unpredictable affair on the cards.
Odds accurate as of 24.04.2025 15:01, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.
