Southampton made a bit of unwanted history on Sunday, as they became the quickest side to ever be relegated from the Premier League (7 games remaining) after losing 3-1 away to Tottenham Hotspur.
WATCH – Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton full match replay
Saints (20th place – 10 points) have won just twice in the PL this season and have picked up just one point from their last seven games, in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Ivan Muric’s side still needs two more points to avoid finishing the season with the fewest in a PL season (11, by Derby County in 2007-08). Southampton are also on pace for a PL-record 30 defeats.
Brennan Johnson scored twice in the first half, taking his tally to 11 goals on the season (club high), and Spurs (14th – 37 points), though they failed to keep their second clean in 15 games, since beating Southampton 5-0 back on Dec. 15, with some half-hearted defending in the 90th minute. Mateus Fernandes pull Saints to within a goal of keeping themselves mathematically alive, but Mathys Tel restored the two-goal advantage from the penalty spot in stoppage time, his first PL goal after joining on loan from Bayern Munich in January.
Still, the entire season, and perhaps Ange Postecoglou’s job, rides on the Europa League where Spurs are set to take on Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarterfinals beginning on Thursday (first leg at home).
Player ratings – Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton
What’s next?
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Eintracht Frankfurt — Thursday, 3 pm ET (Europa League QF)
- Southampton vs Aston Villa — Saturday, 10 am ET
- Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur — Sunday, 9 am ET
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton live updates – by Andy Edwards
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton final score: 3-1
Goalscorers: Brennan Johnson (13′, 42′), Mateus Fernandes (90′), Mathys Tel (90’+6 – PK)
GOAL! Spurs 3-1 Southampton: Tel gets his first PL goal from the penalty spot (90’+6)
GOAL! Spurs 2-1 Southampton: Fernandes slots home at the back post (90′)
Fernandes pulls one back for Southampton v. Spurs
It’s not over for Southampton just yet as Mateus Fernandes gives his side hope late against Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
GOAL! Spurs 2-0 Southampton: Johnson touches home his second of the game (42′)
Johnson taps in his second to double Spurs’ lead
Brennan Johnson secures his brace to give Tottenham Hotspur a 2-0 lead against Southampton at home in Matchweek 31.
OFFSIDE! Bergvall’s goal disallowed after 4.5-minute VAR check (33′)
Semi-automated offside decisions will begin in the Premier League next weekend.
GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Southampton: Johnson smashes home Spence’s cross (13′)
Johnson drills Spurs in front of Southampton
Brennan Johnson finds space inside the box and buries his effort into the back of the net to put Southampton on the brink of relegation.
Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup
Vicario – Porro, Romero, Davies, Spence – Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison – Johnson, Son, Solanke
Southampton starting lineup
Ramsdale – Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Aribo – Walker-Peters, Ogochukwu, Fernandes, Manning – Dibling, Sulemana, Archer
How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — North London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Saints will go down this weekend with a loss to Spurs after Wolves won at Ipswich Town on Saturday, a loss that would make them the fastest team to be relegated in Premier League history by number of remaining matches. They’re also hopeful not to carry another historic mark, as they’ve lost 24 times in league play and are on pace to be the first Premier League club to lose 30 times in a season. Southampton manager Ivan Juric saw his team draw at home to Crystal Palace at midweek. Their 10th point of the Premier League season has them two away from moving ahead of Derby County’s record for the fewest points in a Premier League season (11, set in 2007-08).
Spurs’ 16 losses through 30 matches is their worst-ever mark from the start of a Premier League season, and manager Ange Postecoglou has gone from club darling to controversial lightning rod with his words and actions over a rough run of results. Tottenham went on a seven-match winless run around the new year before winning three-straight in February but have gone right back to losing ways. Spurs have taken one point from 12 — losses to Man City, Fulham, and Chelsea plus a home draw with Bournemouth.
Spurs are 14th on the table and could be 16th by the end of the weekend should Everton and West Ham get positive results. It’s a miserable time in North London, and losing the 20th-place team at home would be brutal.
Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus
OUT: Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL – out for season), Kevin Danso (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Richarlison (lower leg)
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Will Smallbone (groin), Flynn Downes (suspended) | QUESTIONABLE: Ross Stewart (fitness), Juan Larios (fitness)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton prediction
It’s another heart-check for Spurs, who could well fall to a team desperate to avoid the worst season in Premier League history. Everything tells you that Spurs should claim all the points and they did clobber Saints 5-0 at St/ Mary’s earlier this season to end a three-match PL winless run. A sweep does seem likely but is toxicity inside of Tottenham Hotspur. Consider this a very uneasy prediction. Spurs 2-1 Saints.