Southampton Premier League Odds: Pressure on Armstrong to fire Saints to safety

Southampton endured a topsy-turvy nine-plus months in Russell Martin's first season in charge at the club, but all their hard work was rewarded on May 26 as they beat Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship play-off final to secure an instant return to the top flight.

The Saints are back in the big time but face even tougher tests this year. Read below for all the Southampton Premier League odds, including their price for relegation and to finish bottom.

Last Season: 4th (Championship)

Top Scorer: Adam Armstrong (24, including three in the play-offs)

Transfers In: Taylor Harwood-Bellis - Manchester City (£19.7m), Flynn Downes - West Ham United (£15.3m), Ben Brereton Diaz - Villarreal (£7.1m), Yukinari Sugawara - AZ Alkmaar (£6m), Nathan Wood - Swansea City (£3m), Ronnie Edwards - Peterborough United (£3m), Charlie Taylor - Burnley (free), Adam Lallana - Brighton (free)

Transfers Out: Lyanco - Atletico Mineiro (£3.9m), Duje Caleta-Car - Olympique Lyonnais (£3m), Romain Perraud - Real Betis (£3m), Che Adams - Torino (free), Stuart Armstrong - Unattached

First Game: Newcastle United (A)

Prediction: 19th

Premier League Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Premier League Odds page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices.

It wasn't all plain-sailing for Southampton last season, particularly in September when they lost their first four matches of the month, but a real highlight came right after those defeats as Saints subsequently embarked on a 22-game unbeaten run in the league to reassert themselves as promotion candidates.

The automatic spots proved to be out of reach as Leicester City and Ipswich Town set the bar so high, but Martin's side coasted into the play-offs and after beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, they upset the odds to beat Leeds at Wembley and return to the Premier League.

The loans of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynne Downes - two key performers last season - were subsequently made permanent, and further additions to the squad over the summer include Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz and Japanese defender Yukinari Sugawara.

Brereton Diaz will be tasked with replacing the output of Che Adams who left on a free transfer to Italy to sign for Serie A side Torino. Adams struck 16 times in the Championship last season and previously hit 25 goals across four Premier League campaigns for the Saints, so the Scotland striker leaves a considerable void. Brereton Diaz did net six times in a half-season loan spell for Sheffield United in the Premier League earlier this year, so hopes are high that he can do the business for Southampton.

However, the goalkeeping department is yet to be addressed, with Gavin Bazunu out injured for the foreseeable future. Alex McCarthy stepped in at the end of last season and helped guide the club back to the big time, but there are concerns about whether he is the man to marshall the back line.

Pressure will also be heaped on the shoulders of last season's top scorer Adam Armstrong, who scored 21 goals in the regular campaign before finding the net three times in the play-offs. The 27-year-old only managed to score four goals in 54 Premier League appearances for the Saints before their relegation in 2023, so it remains to be seen whether he can establish himself as a consistent goalscorer at the elite level.

Martin has also made it clear that he will not bend his principles despite a sterner challenge seemingly awaiting his side. The former MK Dons and Swansea City head coach favours a patient approach in possession, wearing opponents out in doing so, but that could be a risky tactic given the quality and intensity of the Premier League.

Time will tell whether he is being brave or naive, but he has to be admired for sticking to his beliefs.

Given a points deduction could be on its way to Leicester, there should be confidence that there will be at least one side below them at the end of the season. The question will be whether the Saints can ensure two others join the Foxes in relegation.

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