West Ham vs Southampton preview: Manuel Pellegrini targets strong finish
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Saturday 4 May 2019 14:39, UK
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has called on his players to finish the season strongly ahead of a European charge next year.
The Hammers could finish as high as eighth this season if they win both their final games of the Premier League campaign, starting with the visit of Southampton on Saturday.
"For me it has been a quiet season. We have always been fighting around the mid to top of the table but obviously, I hope that next season we can improve," Pellegrini said.
"Realistically for this club, you have 60,000 people behind you, it is a big club, maybe we cannot compete with money with other clubs but we can try to reduce the distance."
West Ham can't secure European football however well they finish the season and Pellegrini admits he has already set his sights on qualifying for Europe next term.
He added: "I have come to a big club, the Premier League is the best league in the world so I am of course happy. I also want to do it better, this is the first time I have not qualified for Europe so I hope that next season we will do it."
Southampton secured their Premier League safety with a point against Bournemouth last weekend and Ralph Hasenhuttl admits remaining in the top-flight offers a chance for a new start.
Asked whether they celebrated retaining their Premier League status, the Austrian said: "Not that much, I think it was special the moment after, when we were on the pitch.
"It is different, winning a championship or only staying in the league.
"We are happy, we worked very hard to stay in the league. We came from a very difficult position.
"It is fantastic we are safe and it is like a re-start, a new start. For the future, doing it better is the important thing."
Team news
West Ham have received a triple midfield injury boost ahead of their final home game of the season.
Samir Nasri and Manuel Lanzini, who missed the win at Tottenham, have been passed fit to face the Saints.
There could also be a return to the bench for Colombia international Carlos Sanchez, who has been sidelined since September with a long-term knee injury. Andriy Yarmolenko and Andy Carroll are the only absentees.
Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard will not feature again this season - the Denmark international has miss the past three matches because of a groin problem.
Hasenhuttl is also without Maya Yoshida, who remains unavailable following illness.
Opta stats
- West Ham are looking to do the Premier League double over Southampton for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign, following their 2-1 win at St Mary's earlier this season.
- Southampton have lost three of their last four Premier League meetings with West Ham (W1), as many as they had in their previous 12 against them (W5 D4 L3).
- None of the last 15 Premier League meetings between West Ham and Southampton in London have been drawn, with West Ham winning 11 to Southampton's four.
- West Ham have come from behind to win in seven different Premier League games against Southampton, more than they have versus any other side.
- West Ham have won just one of their last five Premier League games (D1 L3), though it did come last time out at Spurs. They've not won back-to-back league games since a run of four in December.
- Southampton have scored in each of their last nine Premier League games - they last found the net in 10 consecutive top-flight matches between September-December 2002 under Gordon Strachan (a run of 12).
- 24 of Southampton's 36 Premier League games have seen both teams score this season - only Manchester United (25) have had this happen in more.
- West Ham's Michail Antonio is looking to score in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since September 2016.
- Shane Long has scored in four of his last five Premier League games for Southampton. On three of those occasions he's netted the opening goal of the game, but Saints haven't gone on to win any of them (D2 L1).
Paul Merson's prediction
They can embarrass you, West Ham. Look at them and think yep, they'll beat Huddersfield easily but it takes a last-minute goal to score their fourth. They should have won against Manchester United, I gave them no chance at Tottenham and they won.
Southampton will have a go too, the way they're set up now. Both teams are safe, it's always important to win your last home game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-2
