Bournemouth vs Southampton Prediction & Betting Tips - Premier League

Prediction published on 16/07/2020, 13:11  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 17/07/2020 at 17:12 in Premier League Predictions

Bournemouth host 12th placed Southampton at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday with the hope of staying in the top flight running out for the Cherries. Eddie Howe's team are 18th in the table, three points adrift of safety with only two games to play.. Friday's win for West Ham over Watford means it looks now as two out of Watford, Bournemouth and Aston Villa will join Norwich City in the Championship next season. Bournemouth are three points behind Watford and have a goal difference that is two worse than them. Watford finish with games against Manchester City and Arsenal so they may well not earn any more points this season. If that is the case then perhaps three points might be enough to save Bournemouth, four would do the job unless Aston Villa do well in their final two games against Arsenal and West Ham. Whatever the situation, Bournemouth need to win at least one of their last two.

Bournemouth have failed to win ten of their last eleven matches in the Premier League, but there is hope in a slight improvement in home performances. The Cherries have four points from their last two home  league games. A 0-0 draw with Tottenham was followed by their surprise 4-1 win over Leicester. That victory had as much to do with their opponent's errors as it did their own brilliance, yet this victory could kickstart a home run. After this game, they end their season with an away game at Everton. We think that it will be a close match with both teams likely to find the back of the net. Both teams have scored in four of Bournemouth's last five matches and three of Southampton's last five.

Southampton are in 12th place in the table and while qualifying for European competition is off the table, a top-ten finish is still an attainable goal. Bournemouth won the reverse fixture 3-1 earlier in the campaign but Southampton will be confident about getting revenge for a number of reasons. Their away form is much, much better than their home form. Only one team in the division has a worse home record and that's already-relegated Norwich. Away from home, Southampton have the fifth-best record in the league and they're unbeaten in four games, the last of which was a draw at Old Trafford. Five of the last six Southampton away matches have featured at least three goals. Back this one to also feature over 2.5 goals.