Since winning promotion to the Premier League in the 2011/12 season, Southampton have done very well to establish themselves in the English top-flight.
Between 2013 and 2017 Southampton have finished 8th, 7th, 6th and 8th in the Premier League, which is a tremendous record and one most teams would be happy with. However, their continued success has slipped under the radar and the Saints will be hoping for more of the same in the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Southampton have been forced to cope with losing their manager on more than one occasion in recent years. Thanks to their success, Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman both left the club and Claude Puel had his contracted terminated in June this year.
Mauricio Pellegrino is the man in charge at St Mary’s this season but will he be able to maintain Southampton’s top half finish in the Premier League?
While Puel did well to steer Southampton to 8th place in the Premier League last season, there were many disappointing defeats throughout the campaign. Losing to Hull City, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Burnley, Swansea City, West Ham United and at home to Stoke City on the final day cost Southampton many points.
If Pellegrino can pick up more wins against these teams this season, Southampton could close the gap on Everton. However, a top half finish must be the priority of the new manager, something which the bookmakers expect Southampton to achieve and they are 4/6 to finish inside the top ten.
Being able to break into the top six is something Southampton have achieved once in the past 4 years and with the money spent by Everton, they have a difficult task on their hands to do it this season. Southampton are 7/2 to finish above Everton.
The key to overhauling Everton will be scoring goals. Southampton scored 41 goals last season and only Burnley scored fewer out of the top 16 teams in the Premier League.
There have been no major incomings in terms of strikers at the club, so Pellegrino must get the best out of what he has already got at the club. The key could be the form and fitness of Manolo Gabbiadini, who will be playing his first full season for the club.
The Italian looked good in a limited number of games last season and if he can remain fit for the entire campaign, will bring more goals to the team. Gabbiadini is 40/1 to be the Premier League’s top goal scorer and 11/10 to be Southampton’s top Premier League goal scorer.
While Southampton will be aiming to score more goals this season, there could be a problem looming in defence. Virgil van Dijk has made clear his desire to leave the club and is 5/6 to join Liverpool.
Whether the Dutchman joins Liverpool or another club, it will be a huge loss to Southampton. It will have an impact on their ability to close the gap on the top six places and a top half finish is probably the best the Saints can achieve this season.