Southampton

We asked you for your post-match thoughts after Southampton's hefty 4-1 defeat to Tottenham on the opening day of the season.

Here are some of your comments:

Douglas: A dreadful start to the season. Once again our lack of ability to defend is mind blowing. We have gone for youth over experience in the transfer market which will suit the Championship but not this league.

Ian: I said long before the end of last season, Hasenhuttl should go and yesterday was further proof. He doesn't know his best eleven and horses for courses doesn't work in the Premier League. There are too many non-Premier League players in the squad. A long hard season is ahead.

Steve: Well it's early days I know but a defeat to Spurs I'm afraid to say looked on the cards even before we played. That is only because Ralph didn't learn or listen to the whole of last season. There were only three teams in the league that let in more goals than us last season, didn't he learn anything? A decent centre-half is needed very quickly.

Matt: It's like Groundhog Day. We pick up where we left off, struggling at the back and no real threat going forward. We have to spend on a decent proven striker or face the fact that we could quite easily go down this year. I'm very concerned with what the ambition of the club really is.

Mike: Outclassed. I expected a heavy defeat but the manner of this performance was worrying. It's just a continuation of last season. The three debutants did ok but it wasn't good to watch.

Watch all the highlights from Saturday's six matches in the Premier League, plus the best moments from Crystal Palace v Arsenal on Friday here.

For all of the highlights from Sunday including West Ham v Manchester City watch Match of the Day 2 here.

Leicester and Southampton are both interested in Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The 21-year-old England international has asked to leave on loan before the transfer deadline.

Daily Telegraph journalist Jim White told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast: "He started a few games early on last season and I thought Thomas Tuchel obviously likes him but it hasn’t progressed from there.

"I think Leicester and Southampton would be great places for him to go. I thought: 'he can’t be 21'. But he made his debut at 17. He was a really early developer. He’s still a developing player. Leicester more than Southampton [would be the good move] as I’m slightly worried where Southampton are going this season.

"Leicester would be great for him to be a permanent first choice. He’s a man of great skill, he was an England player when he was a teenager.

"There was a thought he'd be in the World Cup squad this year – it seems unlikely now unless he goes to Leicester and tears the script up. I think he’d make a really nice little fast-moving partnership with Jamie Vardy."

Listen to talk on Hudson-Odoi from four minutes on the podcast here

Southampton are on alert after England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, 21, asked to leave Chelsea on loan before the transfer window shuts. (Guardian), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Were you at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or following the match from home?

Either way, you can now have your say on the game here

Alex Bysouth, BBC Sport

The focus at St Mary's has been on youth this summer, after signing six players with just two over the age of 20, but it was Saints' Mr Reliable - and last season's top scorer James Ward-Prowse - who got Ralph Hasenhuttl's side off to a superb start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That hope was short lived.

Debutant goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu did produce several fine saves to keep Tottenham from running away with it even further, but the visitors struggled to live with a side Hasenhuttl admitted were a class above.

“The second half showed the gap between the two teams," he said. "They are fighting for the title and Champions League and we are fighting for every point."

Southampton lost their final four games of last season and would not have been expected to stop that run in north London.

But it could prove to be a long season for Saints fans as those inexperienced additions learn to cut it in the top flight.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl to BBC Match of the Day: "We were men against men in the box but we didn’t defend the ball.

"It is isn’t about being organised - it is one v one and we haven’t been good enough. They switched up a gear after 20 minutes and we weren’t good enough.

"What we wanted to do worked quite well and we had good moments. We are lacking defending in and around the box and that’s why we’ve tried to do it with a back five but it is about being stronger individually.

"Against quality teams every mistake gets punished immediately and that’s what happened today. We tried to change the shape at half-the and be more offensive but when you’re defending around the box you want the feeling that they are never going to score and I didn’t have that feeling today.

"It is tough here against this opponent and compete against the quality that they have up front but we thought we were a little bit better defending in this way but the reality was different."

The confirmed Tottenham and Southampton team news is now in, with kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium less than an hour away.

Follow the action and the rest of the Saturday's Premier League matches here

A new season - and a new Premier League predictions expert.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is taking on the challenge from Mark Lawrenson for the 2022-23 campaign and will try to pick the correct scores for every top-flight game against a variety of guests - and this season you can get involved too.

Joining Sutton this week is football commentator and BBC Fantasy 606 co-host Alistair Bruce-Ball.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

There is a lot of excitement around Tottenham, but then it is the same at the start of every season.

I know Richarlison is suspended for this game but it is going to be interesting to see how he fits into their team after joining from Everton.

Dejan Kulusevski did really well after arriving in January and we know how good Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane are, so I don't know how Antonio Conte will fit them all into his team. Still, it's not a bad problem to have.

In contrast to what is expected from Spurs, a lot of people seem to be predicting Southampton will get relegated.

But Saints seem to get written off every season and then prove people wrong.

They have suffered some heavy defeats in recent years but they have also picked up some impressive results under Ralph Hasenhuttl - they drew home and away with Manchester City in the league last season and also won at Conte's Spurs.

I don't see a repeat of that result on Saturday, though. Instead, I'm going for the old Kane and Son one-two to get the job done for Spurs again.

In 2020-21, those two broke the record for the most goal/assist combinations that myself and Alan Shearer held from our Blackburn days, and they remain very hard to stop. They still haven't won the Premier League like we did though, have they?

ABB's prediction: 3-0

Tottenham look to have done some excellent business in the transfer market this summer, they've had a full pre-season under Conte and I expect them to hit the ground running.

Find out how Sutton and Bruce-Ball think the rest of the weekend's action will go and vote on the result you expect here

Ralph Hasenhuttl fees big-money signings "make no sense" for Southampton.

Saints have already brought in six recruits ahead of the new campaign, which begins at Tottenham on Sunday.

Hasenhuttl is hopeful of doing more business but is keen on young players rather than more established, expensive names.

"I'm still of the opinion that £40m or £50m transfers make no sense for us," said Hasenhuttl.

"But we of course want quality, and if it's young, OK, no problem, take it.

"This is the way we want to go and it's good that we have done our job so far.

"But the transfer window is open so long that, if we do something we have enough time to do it."

Tottenham's Oliver Skipp is out with a hairline fracture in his heel, while Yves Bissouma has a minor hamstring strain and will be assessed.

New signing Richarlison serves the final match of a two-game ban after throwing a flare into the stand during Everton's win over Chelsea last season.

Southampton wingers Nathan Tella and Theo Walcott are both sidelined with respective knee and fitness issues.

Full-back Tino Livramento is the only long-term absentee.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is expected to hand debuts to a number of players, including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and attacking midfielder Joe Aribo.

Who makes your Spurs XI?

Select and share your Saints line-up

Nottingham Forest signing Southampton striker Che Adams would be a "gamble", according to Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards.

Scotland international Adams, 26, has scored 20 goals in 96 Premier League games for the Saints and is currently being linked with the Reds.

Forest have already signed 12 players since their promotion.

"Che Adams is not an elite level striker at Premier League level. Southampton are willing to let him go, which would tell its own story, but he has got more of a track record of scoring goals in the Premier League than anybody at Forest, with the exception of Jesse Lingard," Edwards told the Transfer Gossip Daily.

"I can see why they would do it. It’s a gamble but one newly promoted teams need to make.

"Forest aren’t taking any prisoners. I look at the amount they're spending and it makes me concerned.

"We’ve seen it with Fulham when they spent over £100m and were relegated. I think Forest are going to spend more than that. Steve Cooper got that team promoted a certain way with a certain culture. Are they going to lose that dressing room spirit by signing a load of new players?

"Brentford showed if you keep what you have when you go up you’re more likely to stay up."

Listen to Friday's Transfer Gossip Daily on BBC Sounds

Image source, Reuters

Ralph Hasenhuttl has backed his latest crop of young signings to make an impact in the Premier League.

Southampton have made six signings with only Joe Aribo and back-up keeper Mateusz Lis older than 20.

The Saints boss is unperturbed by the fact none of the new arrivals have played in the Premier League before.

"We know the kind of players we get," he said. "They have a lot of fantasy.

"We have seen it before - some of them can help us immediately and some take a little longer. Some players need a year while some others are so good that it goes more quickly.

"We will not see all the new players straight away as they are young and have to learn."

Last season, Tino Livramento and Armando Broja thrived at St Mary's and Hasenhuttl is hopeful of further success stories.

"We are keen to give young players a chance to make their first steps in the Premier League," he said. "We know what to expect from them - they've got a lot of talent but they have to give a lot of effort.

"They will maybe make some mistakes that they have to learn from and that may cost us sometimes but we have been keen to do this in the past and will do in the future as well."

Ralph Hasenhuttl has been speaking to the media before Southampton’s game with Spurs on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Theo Walcott, Nathan Tella and Romain Perraud are not fit so will not be involved.

• He is pleased that Premier League football is back: “We know how exciting it is when it starts again. We are part of it and for sure we are excited.”

• On six new signings, none of whom have played in the Premier League before, he said: “We know the kind of players we get – they have a lot of fantasy. Some can help us immediately, some take a little longer.”

• He has not yet decided if new 20-year-old keeper Gavin Bazunu will be his first choice: “He’s a good one but I’ve not made the decision yet. You will see on Saturday.”

• He hailed last season’s 3-2 win over Spurs as “one of our best,” adding: “It was great for sure. You have to show again you can compete. We will have to be perfect to get something.”

Follow all of today's Premier League news conferences here

With two days until Southampton begin their Premier League campaign, the club have unveiled their new third kit.

The green and black shirt pays homage to the city's rich aviation history and its connections to the Royal Air Force.

Both sleeves feature yellow, white, red and blue stipes, taking inspiration from the RAF roundel.

Saints director of marketing and partnerships Sarah Batters told the club website: "With this shirt, we wanted to give a nod to our city’s connections to the RAF. Working with Hummel has allowed us to be creative and celebrate that in the design of the shirt."

Are you a fan of the new kit? Have your say here

Adam Blackmore, BBC Radio Solent

Three days to go until Saints start the new Premier League with a very tough trip to Spurs and it’s hard to gauge the mood.

Some fans I’ve spoken to have optimism based around the club actually spending some money this summer without selling first, and they have invested in some of the best young talent around.

That is absolutely cause for optimism.

But against that is the feeling summed up by one fan in my office, who told me the other day he was more worried about relegation than at any time in the last decade that Saints have spent back in the top flight. When I asked him why, he said because none of the signings have played in the Premier League and are all young.

So, there it is in a nutshell, and only time will tell. If this young talent flourishes it can be an exciting season for Saints, even in mid-table, which is a good place to be. If they don’t, then it could be a long winter. Winning at Spurs for a second time this year would be a welcome shock, but as always, Saints season won’t be defined by results against the 'top six'.

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport

Last season - 15th

This season's prediction - 17th

Big season for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who felt the force of fans' anger during a dismal end to the league season that saw Saints lose nine of their last 12 games. He will be under scrutiny.

He has revamped his backroom team and will need a fast start to disprove claims his reign at St Mary's has run out of steam.

Hasenhuttl's work in the transfer market has focused largely on youth, with teenagers Romeo Lavia and Sekou Mara arriving from Manchester City and Bordeaux respectively. New defender Armel Bella-Kotchap, signed from Bochum, is only 20. Much will be expected from Joe Aribo, who has come from Rangers.

Saints have kept captain James Ward-Prowse away from admirers. He will be key to their season, which I expect to be one of making sure they stay out of trouble.

I do not predict their safety with huge confidence.

See Phil's full Premier League predictions here

• Tottenham have won their first league match in six of the past nine seasons (D1 L2).

• Southampton have lost more away Premier League games against Spurs (17) than against any other side in the competition’s history.

• Only Alan Shearer (14) and Andrew Cole (11) have scored more or as many Premier League goals against Southampton than Tottenham pair Harry Kane (11) and Son Heung-min (10).

• Southampton have won two of their past three away league games in London (L1), as many as they had in their previous 19 in the capital (D6 L11).