Follow live coverage as Southampton face Tottenham Hotspur today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Southampton FC 0 - 5 Tottenham Hotspur FC
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
21:02A goalless second half comes to an end with the scores and the points having been decided a long time ago, as Tottenham see out a 5-0 humbling of Southampton at St. Mary's. A brace from Maddison and further strikes from Son, Kulusevski and Sarr had given the visitors a commanding lead at the break, making the second half a precession as Spurs produced 2.62 xG in total, with Sarr and Johnson having their only real chances to extend the advantage. Southampton improved markedly in the second period to create 0.68 xG and several chances, as Dibling, Walker-Peters, Wood and Harwood-Bellis all tested the Spurs defence and Fernandes had an offisde goal disallowed. Saints remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with just five points and now a crushing –25 in the goals difference column, while Spurs pick up their first win in four to move back into the top half.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:57FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-5 TOTTENHAM.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:57CHANCE!!! Walker-Peters' scooped cross to the far post has both Fernandes and Gray sliding in for it, but it's the Spurs youngster who gets the crucial touch and Forster collects in the six-yard box!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:53We're into the first of three added minutes at St. Mary's as Spurs close in on their most comfortable victory for quite some time.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:53WIDE!!! Spurs can't quite make it six!!! Sarr plays in Werner down the left and his first-time cross is met by Johnson at the near post, who goes with his right foot rather than his left and can only put it wide!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:52SAVED!!! A cross, then a shot from Sugawara are both blocked by Spurs defenders, but the second attempt ricochets back to Harwood-Bellis and his half-volley from the edge of the box is drilled off the ground and stopped by Forster!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:49SAVED!!! A Spurs corner is played short and comes out to Sarr, who lines up a strike from 25 yards and fires straight into McCarthy's gloves!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:48Sarr combines with Porro and Kulusevski to send Lankshear on a run in behind the Southampton defence, but Wood forces him wide and blocks the young striker off to shepherd the ball behind for a goal-kick.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:46Southampton had lost just one of their last six home league games against Tottenham, a 5-2 in September 2020, but Spurs' first-half display has shattered that record with the same number of goals fired past McCarthy in the Saints goal.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:44BALL IN THE NET!!! Southampton think they've got a consolation but are denied by the offside flag! Downes swings in a cross from the edge of the box towards an unmarked Fernandes at the far post, but the Portuguese midfielder's run is a fraction too early and the flag goes up!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:43Substitution Dominic Ayodele Solanke-Mitchell William Lankshear
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:43WIDE!!! Walker-Peters pinches Porro's pocket to make his way into the box and cross, but after Spurs half-clear the ball, it comes back to Dibling on the edge of the area, who sends a fizzing, curling strike wide with Forster beaten!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:39Bednarek looks to pick out Armstrong with a long cross-field ball from deep, but Dragusin gets to it first and comfortably deals with the threat alongside Forster and Gray.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:38Substitution Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence Alfie Terry Charlie Dorrington
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:38Substitution James Daniel Maddison Timo Werner
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:36SAVED!! A Spurs attack breaks down at one end and Dibling races away with possession at the other, butting inside before curling a shot goalwards from 20 yards which is held with ease by Forster!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:35Southampton have scored in each of their last 15 Premier League games against Tottenham, their longest scoring streak against an opponent in the competition’s history – but after fast running out of time to extend that record in what would still be a significant defeat.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:33CHANCE!!! Saints win a corner which is initially dealt with before Aribo swings another ball in from the left. Wood arrives at the far post and volleys back across the face of goal, but can't quite pick out the far corner or a team-mate as the ball flashes wide!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:31Tottenham had never scored five first-half goals in a Premier League game before this one, but haven't really come close to adding to their hefty tally since the second period began.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:28WIDE!! Aribo plays the ball wide to an advanced Walker-Peters, who cuts inside from the left and drills a low shot through the crowd which rattles into the side netting!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:26BLOCKED!!! Fernandes finds Dibling in space to his right and the teenager dribbles towards the box, letting fly from 25 yards and seeing his effort blocked by Dragusin!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:24Manning's delivery from the set-piece isn't dealt with initially, but falls for Solanke, who is on cover at the near post, and he clears his lines.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:24Substitution Ryan Phelim Manning Yukinari Sugawara
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:22Walker-Peters tries to pick out Armstrong in the box, but Gray slides in to block the cross and steers it behind for a rare Saints corner.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:19Yellow Card Brennan Price Johnson
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:18Dbling clips a lovely ball through to Armstrong from the right-hand touchline, but Forster's off his line to come and collect before the Saints captain can get on the end of it.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:17WIDE!!! Manning's ball over the top is brought down well by Southampton who lets fly with an early shot which he pulls just wide of the far post as the offside flag goes up!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:16With two in the first half, the withdrawn Son is now Tottenham's joint-leading assister in Premier League history, drawing level with Darren Anderton with his 67th and 68th.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:13CHANCE!! Manning cuts out a Dragusin pass and beats both Spence and Kulusevski to make his way into the box, but Dragusin recovers to dispossess him and the chance comes to nothing!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:11Yellow Card James Daniel Maddison
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:11Southampton are now the only team in Premier League history to go in at half-time trailing by a five-goal margin on multiple occasions, first doing so against Leicester City in October 2019 – a game they ended up losing by a record-equalling 9-0 scoreline.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:09Spurs' chances in our live win probability tracker suggests that they will indeed come away from St. Mary's with the points – sitting on a 99.9% chance of victory with 45 minutes still to play. Southampton, with less than a 0.1% chance by comparison, get us back underway as Armstrong resumes proceedings.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:06Substitution Heung-Min Son Brennan Price Johnson
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
20:05It's been an absolute field day for Spurs on the attacking front, with Maddison at the forefront having scored 36 seconds into the contest and then again with 35 seconds left on the first-half clock. Two of his three shots have found the next from an xG of 0.42, with the England playmaker also completing 15 final-third passes, creating two chances and completing all seven of his duels, including three dribbles from three attempts. If Spurs go for the jugular and attempt to make it 10 in the second half, expect their number 10 to be at the forefront.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:59The half-time whistle goes, and that's a small mercy for Southampton, who trail 5-0 to a resurgent Tottenham after one of the most one-sided first half performances in Premier League history. Spurs have produced a huge 2.18 xG to the hosts' 0.54, and took the lead inside the opening 36 seconds through Maddison. Little over 10 minutes later, Son and Kulusevski both lashed in from close range within moments of one another to open up a 3-0 gap, and Sarr's composed finish following a surging run added further to Saints' misery midway through the half. Armstrong did have two chances to reduce the defecit for Southampton, heading straight at Forster and firing wide at the near post, and those misses were compounded right at the end by Maddison firing in his second to make it 5-0. The Saints look dead and buried, while you'd more likely back Spurs to go and make it 10 in the second period.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:54HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-5 TOTTENHAM.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:51Harwood-Bellis tries to pick out Aribo's run into the Spurs box, but Porro gets his head to it first and Gray leaves the ball for Forster to collect.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:51Assist Heung-Min Son
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:51Tottenham have made a season-high five changes from their last league match ahead of this one, and their showing so far suggests that decision has paid off – and then some!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:48We're into an additional four minutes of added time, and everyone associated with Southampton will hope that it passes as soon as possible!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:47SAVED!!! Tottenham work their way forward with a fluid passing sequence which starts in their own box, and culminates with Kulusevski finding Son for a left-footed strike which is saved and held by McCarthy!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:46SAVED!!! Maddison's in acres of space as he moves the ball left to Son, who goes around the outside of Walker-Peters and smashes a shot goalwards from a tight angle – which is parried by McCarthy but is judged to have hit the post, meaning a goal-kick is given!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:45The last four teams to concede at least four goals inside the opening 25 minutes of a Premier League home game have been newly promoted, and at this rate, Southampton could be newly-relegated once again in a matter of months.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:43WIDE!!! Southampton miss a glorious chance to pull once back!! Dibling stands up his marker to play Manning into space down the left, and the Irishman's first-time cross is met by Armstrong at the near post, who slides in and engages Forster put can only roll his effort wide of the target!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:41Dibling drives forward through the middle and plays a throughball into the area. Armstrong is giving chase, but Dragusin slides across in cover to deny him despite several of the remaining home fans calling for handball!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:38SAVED!!! Sours counter at breakneck speed from a Southampton free-kick as Maddison surges over halfway. He plays in Son ahead of him, and the captain's left-footed strike is tipped over the bar by McCarthy!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:37Yellow Card Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:35Porro swings in a right-sided cross from deep which Solanke looks to get on the end of, but he can't quite sort out his feet in time and Southampton make a rare clearance.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:31This is the earliest Tottenham have ever led by four goals in a Premier League game, with Sarr's the 19th first-half strike Southampton have conceded this season.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:31Yellow Card Lucas Erik Holger Bergvall
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:29Substitution Iyenoma Destiny Udogie Pedro Antonio Porro Sauceda
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:28Maddison's opener after 36 seconds is the earliest goal Southampton have conceded in a Premier League game since Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic scored after 13 seconds in November 2013, which was also the longest-range strike in the competition's history.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:27Assist Heung-Min Son
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:26Goal Pape Matar Sarr
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:26WIDE!! Tottenham pack the Southampton box with numbers from a Maddison free-kick which is headed clear, and after Son's shot from a Spence cross is blocked, it comes back to Maddison and he curls another effort wide from just inside the area!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:24Maddison and Sarr both feign to shoot on the edge of the box before the latter plays in Kulusevski to his right, and the Swede's own attempt from a tight angle is blocked behind by Manning for a corner.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:22SAVED!!! A first sight of goal for the Saints! Dibling clips an outside-of-the-boot cross into the area which is attacked by Armstrong, but his glancing header is sent straight into Forster's gloves!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:20This is the earliest an away team have led 3-0 in a Premier League game since Arsenal against Newcastle in February 2011 – and Southampton's only silver lining must be that the game in question eventually finished up as a 4-4 draw.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:20Fernandes plays a long throughball in behind for Armstrong to chase, but former Southampton goalkeeper Forster comes out of his box to clear for Tottenham.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:16Substitution Kamaldeen Sulemana Nathan Dean Joshua Wood-Gordon
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:15Goal Dejan Kulusevski
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:13Goal Heung-Min Son
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:12SAVED!! Efforts from Spence and Kulusevski are both blocked from that Spurs corner, until a cross from the right comes back in to Son's feet. He cuts inside and shoots through the crowd, but it's straight at McCarthy and he holds the ball!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:11Two Udogie crosses are blocked by Southampton before Bergvall recovers possession for the visitors. He finds Kulusevski, whose cutback is steered behind by Downes for the first corner of the game.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:10Walker-Peters drives to the edge of the box and looks to whip a cross into the far post, but it's overhit to evade both Aribo and Fernandes as Spurs look to break on the counter-attack.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:08Fernandes stays down for Saints following a coming-together with Spence on the right, but is eventually back to his feet and play continues.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:06That Maddison strike after just 36 seconds is Tottenham's earliest Premier League goal since January 2018, when Christian Eriksen scored after 11 seconds against Manchester United.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:03Assist Diop Tehuti Djed-Hotep Spence
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:02Goal James Daniel Maddison
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:02Solanke gets the game underway for the visitors Spurs, and we're off and running on the south coast of England!
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:01Given Southampton’s record this season – collecting just five points so far – it’s no surprise to see Tottenham way out in front with a 50.7% chance of victory in our live win probability tracker. Southampton, down on just 26.7% themselves, will be hoping home advantage can see them become the latest team to cause Spurs a slip-up as the players head out onto the pitch at St. Mary’s.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:48Tottenham go one better in terms of changes as Postecoglou makes five from the side which started Spurs’ 1-1 draw at Rangers on Thursday. Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr all come into the Australian’s midfield, with Djed Spence prefered to Pedro Porro at right-back and Dominic Solanke back to lead the line up front.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:48Changes aplenty for Southampton following their 1-0 loss to Southampton last time out, as Alex McCarthy returns between the sticks with Jan Bednarek in front of him. Russell Martin’s Saints will play a flat five in midfield, with Joe Aribo and Kamaldeen Sulemana also both coming into the starting side and Adam Armstrong wearing the captain’s armband.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:42TOTTENHAM SUBS: Brandon Austin, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, Pedro Porro, Will Lankshear, Alfie Dorrington, Callum Olusesi, Maeson King, Malachi Hardy.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:42TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Fraser Forster; Djed Spence, Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie; Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr; Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Son Heung-Min; Dominic Solanke.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:37SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Joe Lumley, Adam Lallana, James Bree, Nathan Wood, Yukinari Sugawara, Cameron Archer, Ryan Fraser, Sam Amo-Ameyaw, Paul Onuachu.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:37SOUTHAMPTON (4-5-1): Alex McCarthy; Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning; Tyler Dibling, Joe Ariba, Flynn Downes, Mateus Fernandes, Kamaldeen Sulemana; Adam Armstrong.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:37Spurs’ form isn’t much better coming into this game, with Ange Postecoglou’s side failing to win in their last five since thumping champions Manchester City 4-0 away from home. That’s included back-to-back 1-0 and 4-3 losses to Bournemouth and Chelsea respectively, as well as Europa League draws with Roma and Rangers last time out, and the 12th placed Lilywhites need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:32Two sides both mired in woeful runs of form meet on the south coast, with Southampton rooted to the foot of the Premier League table having won just one game all season. That came six games ago against Everton, and having lost four from five since – including a 5-1 home loss to Chelsea – Saints need to find another win from somewhere as they try and make up a gap to safety which already stands at nine points.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:32Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this Premier League fixture from St. Mary’s Stadium, as bottom side Southampton host Tottenham Hotspur.
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
17:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
