Premier League finishes, top scorers and season previews

A disappointing 2022/23 Premier League season meant Russell Martin was set to rebuild at Southampton, but the new manager inspired the Saints to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Martin’s young side progressed to the second tier and, while they were only briefly part of the title race, a 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley meant they secured promotion to the play-offs.

The manager’s huge success with an inexperienced squad should not be overlooked, but Martin is determined to work hard to maintain Saints’ Premier League status when he returns to the big time.

Here it is 90 min season preview of Southampton’s 2024/25 campaign.

Ralph Hasenhuttl did wonders on the south coast to give stability to St. Mary’s but his reign came to an abrupt halt at the start of a disastrous 2022/23 campaign in which Southampton were the worst team in the Premier League.

However, a brilliant rebuilding job overseen by Martin saw the Saints enjoy a successful campaign in the tough Championship. Maybe they weren’t expected to get a quick promotion, but that’s exactly what they got.

The slogan of the league campaign cries, but maybe the Saints can enjoy a cup or two in 2024/25? They have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup from 2021.

While Flynn Downes has retained the number four on loan, full-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis will wear the six-shirt after completing a move to Southampton. The young defender wore 21 caps in the Championship last season.

Alex McCarthy is still the first team player and the veteran shooter will play a big role for Martin at the start of the new season as Gavin Bazunu is out for a long time.

*Numbers may change before the end of the transfer window

In

The Saints have signed several loan stars from their promotion to permanent deals, including Harwood-Bellis and Downes from Man City and West Ham respectively. Breton Diaz showed he is comfortable at this level with Sheffield United last season and will provide a strong attacking threat. Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor are smart additions to the veterans.

Get out

The club has parted ways with many members of the old league having been relegated to the second division in the past two seasons. Not many fans will be disappointed to see the return of Lyanco, Romain Perraud and Duje Caleta-Car. Che Adams got a gig in Torino after his release.

Home kit

Outdoor kit

The third kit

Adam Armstrong is a proven goalscorer in the second tier. The diminutive but explosive forward scored 24 times in all competitions last season. However, he is yet to prove himself in the Premier League and that should worry Martin.

Armstrong has just four Premier League goals to his name in 53 games. There should be improvement in 2024/25, but the Englishman will not set the world on fire.

With Che Adams out of the picture, new signings Ben Brereton Diaz he can take the mantle of goals. The Chilean striker has also been effective in the EFL but showed a poor Sheffield United side last season that he cannot produce at this level, scoring six Premier League goals in 14 games in the second half of 2023/24.

A powerful runner who has proven to be effective in front of goal over the years, Diaz is a strong candidate to top Southampton’s goalscoring charts.

This could be a long campaign for Southampton. The Saints continue to stock up on youth, but Martin currently has an undecided squad due to the difficulties of the Premier League. What they have is a number of the best players in the Championship.

That, unfortunately, won’t cut it.

Should he continue with ownership-focused views for 2023/24, Southampton will struggle to finish anywhere but bottom of the table. It could be bad.

Southampton 2024/25 Premier League Prediction – 19

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