Southampton vs Tottenham LIVE!
Tottenham scored five goals in the opening half of a Premier League game for the first time in their history as they thrashed bottom club Southampton 5-0 away on Sunday. James Maddison scored twice, his first after 36 seconds and his second on the stroke of halftime, while Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr were also on target.
As Southampton imploded, many of their fans left well before the interval, although those that stayed at least watched their team recover a modicum of pride in the second half. Victory was a welcome boost for Spurs who had managed only one point from their last three league games. They moved up to 10th with 23 points from 16 games. with a 17+ goal difference.
Southampton remain on five points and already look destined for a rapid return to the Championship as they languish nine points from the safety zone.
Southampton vs Tottenham latest updates
- GOAL! Sarr makes it FOUR adter 25 mins
- GOAL! Kulusevski makes it three after 15 mins
- GOAL! Son fires home as Spurs double up
- GOAL! Maddison scores after 40 seconds
Full-time!
20:54 , Alex Young94min: More boos from the sparse home crowd on a night which could not have been easier for Spurs.
91min: Three minutes added on.
87min: Bergvall down with cramp. He has looked very at ease tonight.
82min: Now Lankshear is coming on, replacing Solanke.
80min: Southampton think they have one back as Fernandez heads home unmarked, but he’s offside.
79min: Dibling with another effort. He’s not stopped tonight.
77min: Maddison and Spence are off, Werner and Dorrington, for his debut, is on.
73min: Werner and, more notably, Dorrington being readied for Spurs.
71min: Son spotted on the bench, and no signs of injury so must be getting a rest.
66min: Walker-Peters brushes the side netting with a smart, low effort.
Spurs are managing the game but Southampton are creating chances.
Dan Kilpatrick at St Mary's
20:25 , Alex YoungSpurs' intensity has understandably dwindled since the interval.
Even Postecoglou, whose mantra is "never stop", must sense an opportunity to see out this game at half-pace and save some legs for Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
62min: Manning is off for Sugawara.
60min: A tamer half, this, which is of no surprise. Spurs still bossing possession.
57min: Sugawara is being readied.
55min: Stunning pass from Dibling, not for the first time, almost slips in Armstrong again.
He is so good.
51min: Kulusevski charges over the halfway line with Johnson begging for the ball on the opposite flank, but the chance to pass quickly vanishes and the Swede ends up playing the ball back.
49min: Spence is down after being caught in the face by Manning. Looked soft.
47min: Johnson is on for Son, unsure if that was just giving the skipper a rest.
Second half
20:06 , Alex Young46min: Surely Spurs go for this.
Dan Kilpatrick at St Mary's
19:54 , Alex YoungI can't remember a Premier League side being that bad in the first half since Tottenham's 6-1 defeat to Newcastle in April 2023.
It's embarrassingly easy for Spurs against a woeful opponent. Spurs have been clinical and deserve some credit but it's genuinely hard to know how much to read into this display given the depths plumbed by Saints.
Another 9-0 could be incoming.
Half-time!
19:52 , Alex Young51min: There’s the whistle.
GOAL!
19:51 , Alex Young50min: Oh my word, it’s FIVE with the final kick of the half as Maddison cuts back at beats McCarthy from the most acute of angle.s
Incredible finish.
49min: Martin is already down the tunnel.
48min: Spence gets down the wing again and looks for a team-mate in the area but only finds Fernandez.
46min: Four minutes added on.
45min: A brilliant move from almost their goal line all the way to Son up top, to force McCarthy into another save... almost a wondergoal from Spurs.
43min: Son tests McCarthy at his near post, but it’s wide. Consistently given so much space.
40min: A nice move by Southampton as Dibling - who, even in this game, is catching the eye - sends it wide by Armstrong to be played in, but the striker fires the wrong side of the near post.
37min: Cries for a Dragusin handball in the area but it’s during a sliding tackle and the referee isn’t interested.
36min: Son takes the corner and it’s cleared by a Saints head.
35min: A hold-up here as Bergvall hits the deck after being pushed into the post by Fernandez.
That looked so dangerous and the Saints man is booked. That could have been much worse.
34min: A great break, started by Maddison who drives 60 yards across the halfway line and then finds Son to take a touch and force McCarthy into a big save.
31min: Bednarek almost loses possession in the area and lets Solanke in, but the striker is adjudged to have fouled the defender in the process.
Southampton got away with one there.
Dan Kilpatrick at St Mary's
19:31 , Alex YoungProbably more significant than Spurs' fourth goal is an injury to Destiny Udogie, who was forced off gesturing to his thigh.
Spurs cannot afford to lose another defender to a muscle injury. On comes Pedro Porro (who was supposed to be having a rest).
28min: Amid the Spurs celebrations, Udogie has gone off and replaced by Porro.
That is another injury to defence. Spence is now on the left.
26min: Martin calls his players over for a chat. Bit late for that.
GOAL!
19:27 , Alex Young25min: Oh my, it’s FOUR!
Sarr runs onto Son’s pass, jinks through the penalty area and beats McCarthy.
This is just abysmal from Southampton, Spurs are feasting.
Dan Kilpatrick at St Mary's
19:24 , Alex YoungIt is embarrassingly easy for Spurs and turning to open mutiny here at St. Mary's, as the home fans vent at Russell Martin.
It is going to be a very rough night for the Saints boss, you feel. For Ange Postecoglou, this stroll in the park could not be better for his struggling, exhausted side. Spurs couldn't mess it up from here...could they?
21min: Maddison wins a free kick 30 yards out, sends in a fierce delivery which McCarthy punches out. Spurs players are lining up to shoot, and Maddison eventually bends an effort wide.
18min: Glimmer of hope for Saints as Dibling puts it on a plate for Armstrong to head straight at Forster.
17min: Amid the boos, Southampton bring on centre-back Wood for winger Sulemana.
Martin’s tactical experiment is abandoned.
GOAL!
19:16 , Alex Young15min: Kulusevski makes it THREE!
Southampton all over the place and fans are leaving after 15 minutes.
Son whipped in a ball, Solanke failed to get on the end of it and Kulusevski was free in the six-yard box to score.
GOAL!
19:14 , Alex Young12min: Son fires home at the back post and Spurs are cruising here.
Boos rain down from the home fans. This could get ugly, but Spurs do hate a 2-0 lead...
11min: Spence is up for this as he hares after a hopeful ball over the top and then closes down McCarthy to rush a clearance out of play.
10min: Son sends in the corner, it’s headed out for Spence to swing a leg at it and then Kulusevski. Nothing doing.
9min: Spurs win a corner after winning the ball back on the edge of the Southampton penalty area.
7min: Aribo with a really late one on Maddison near the touchline. No booking but the referee, who is not afraid to get his cards out, will have his number.
6min: Saints have reacted well to going behind. No heads dropped and pushing Spurs back.
Dan Kilpatrick at St Mary's
19:06 , Alex YoungWhat a brilliant start for Djed Spence, who made that goal for Maddison with a superb turn, run and pass. No hint of hesitation from the full-back on his first Spurs start.
3min: Spurs fans are drowning out the home support.
2min: This is the 12th match in which Southampton has conceded first. They have lost 10 of the previous 11.
GOAL!
19:03 , Alex Young1min: Maddison fires home after just 40 seconds!
Spence with a superb turn and drive through the the Southampton midfield and then slides in Maddison to score.
Perfect start for Spurs.
Kick-off!
19:01 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Here come the players. Not long now.
Ange Postecoglou to TNT Sports
18:51 , Alex Young"We've got to be respectful of [Southampton] and make sure that we impose our game on them and force them into things they don't want to do.
"There's no doubt that they can cause anyone problems, and we have to be ready for that."
Dan Kilpatrick at St Mary's
18:44 , Alex YoungIt is a sign of the state of Ange Postecoglou's squad (and perhaps Southampton's struggles this season) that Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall start in the Premier League for the first time this evening.
If the pair prove they can perform at this level, it would be a big boost for Postecoglou, improving the head coach's options over the packed festive schedule before his more established stars begin to return in the new year.
Players going through their final drills now.
A remarkable end to the Manchester derby sees United score two late goals to beat City and climb above Tottenham in the Premier League standings.
Spurs must win to finish in the top half tonight.
An interesting name on the bench for Spurs is Maeson King, a 16-year-old.
He’s a left winger turned left-back (what’s called the reverse Bale) and has a name which is quite popular at the club.
Another big test for Gray tonight.
Southampton make four changes, with McCarthy and Bednarek back from injury and Aribo and Sulemana given the nod.
It's five changes for Spurs, who hand a first Premier League start to Bergvall and a first start ever to Spence. Bold call for an already inexperienced defence.
Porro and Johnson are on the bench, while Kulusevksi, Sarr and Solanke all come in. Werner, as expected, drops to the bench.
Team news in full
17:54 , Alex YoungSouthampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning, Fernandes, Aribo, Downes, Dibling, Armstrong, Sulemana
Subs: Lumley, Bree, Wood, Sugawara, Lallana, Amo-Ameyaw, Archer, Fraser, Onuachu
Tottenham XI: Forster; Spence, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Sarr, Bergvall, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son; Solanke
Subs: Austin, Porro, Dorrington, King, Hardy, Olusesi, Werner, Johnson, Lankshear
Tottenham XI
17:47 , Alex YoungStarts for Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall!
Your Spurs side in Southampton 🙌
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 15, 2024
🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/CaG7kbNNl9
Southampton XI
17:45 , Alex YoungThe hosts!
Your SAINTS ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/2bMbIrRqxA
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 15, 2024
Team news in under 10 minutes.
Southampton points haul 'incredibly hurtful and embarrassing'
17:23 , Alex YoungSouthampton boss Russell Martin admits his side's Premier League points haul so far this season is "incredibly hurtful and embarrassing".
The Saints are rock bottom of the table having only accumulated five points during the current campaign, with their only win of the season coming against Everton last month.
He said: "We shouldn't be on the points we are. It's incredibly hurtful and embarrassing that we're only on five points, we should have more.
"But there's been a few too many mistakes, a few too many moments we haven't managed well and disappointments in games and setbacks, so we have to keep trying to grow.
"Grow as a group, grow individually and prepare the players for those moments where it's tough and what to do and find ways to cope and manage emotionally."
Postecoglou on Werner future
17:15 , Alex YoungAnge Postecoglou is not currently considering bringing a premature end to Timo Werner’s loan spell at Tottenham.
Postecoglou fumed that Werner’s performance against Rangers was “not acceptable” as he replaced him at half-time with Dejan Kulusevski.
The Tottenham boss appeared to double down on those comments during a subsequent press conference held before Sunday night’s gamr, insisting that they were an “assessment of his performance” rather than intended as criticism.
Tottenham are said to have previously held a £15million option to buy Werner permanently, while they can now sign him for £8.5m next summer - the chances of which now happening seem very slim indeed.
"Right now that is the furthest thing from my mind,” Postecoglou said when asked if Werner could return to Leipzig early in January. “I’m just not interested in what happens next. I’m interested in what happens now.
“Now is the time we have an opportunity. In these next five games between now and New Year we can set up our season.”
Score prediction
17:06 , Alex YoungIn fairness to the Saints, their performance in the recent home game against Liverpool was proof that they can spring a surprise on any given day. But too often this season they’ve given away cheap goals and lessons don’t seem to be taken on board.
This is arguably the perfect fixture for Spurs to play themselves into some form ahead of the huge Carabao Cup quarter-final meeting with Manchester United next week, as there’s a good chance to fill their boots.
Tottenham to win, 4-1.
Why is tonight a 7pm kick-off?
16:57 , Alex YoungSpurs are used to playing on Sundays after Europa League games on Thursdays, but they have an unusual kick-off time at St Mary’s this weekend.
The match has been selected for TV coverage by TNT Sports and was originally scheduled for a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday.
It had to be moved to Sunday after Spurs played Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday, but could not clash with the two Sky Sports games on Sunday.
Sky are showing Brighton vs Crystal Palace at 2pm, followed by the Manchester derby at the Etihad at 4.30pm.
As a result, the Spurs game has been given a 7pm kick-off on the south coast.
Tottenham team news
16:50 , Alex YoungArchie Gray will continue at centre-back for injury-hit Tottenham.
Postecoglou has said Spurs are facing the biggest injury crisis of his managerial career and Gray will start alongside Radu Dragusin at the heart of the defence, with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies all out.
Pedro Porro has been looking increasingly tired in recent weeks and Postecoglou must be considering bringing Djed Spence into the team.
Yves Bissouma is banned after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in last weekend’s 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.
Rodrigo Bentancur continues his Premier League suspension so Postecoglou has a big decision over the make-up of his midfield.
Lucas Bergvall is pushing for his first Premier League start after impressing in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Rangers.
In attack, Postecoglou must decide whether to stick with Timo Werner after calling out his “unacceptable” first-half performance against Rangers.
Southampton team news
16:41 , Alex YoungSouthampton boss Martin has revealed that Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu are both available ahead of Sunday's clash with Tottenham. Adam Lallana will also be back in contention but the game comes too soon for ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to make his return, though Alex McCarthy is fit.
Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Will Smallbone and Juan Larios are all still out, while defender Jack Stephens is serving a four-game ban for his second red card of the season received for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the thumping home defeat by Chelsea.
How to watch Southampton vs Tottenham
16:34 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 (in standard definition and high definition). Coverage starts at 6pm GMT ahead of a 7pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Welcome
16:30 , Alex YoungGood evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Southampton and Tottenham.
Spurs are looking for just their second win in nine across all competitions, while Saints are looking for their second win in 16 in the league.
Two teams in desperate need of three points, it’s a wonder for which the points are more important.
Kick-off on the south coast is at 7pm GMT. Stick with us.
