Tactical Analysis: Southampton 2020/21

“Just over a year since their lowest point, Southampton reach their highest point”, said Sky Sports commentator Rob Hawthorne as Southampton, albeit temporarily, rose to the top of the Premier League for the first time in their history after a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle on the most recent Friday Night Football.

Southampton sat inside the top four at the start of the third international break of the 2020/21 season, which is truly representative of the remarkable turnaround Ralph Hasenhüttl has overseen in the last year. The faith that the club placed in the Austrian to guide Southampton forward after the embarrassing 9-0 home defeat to Leicester City last October has been, and continues to be repaid.

Many thought Hasenhüttl would be relieved from his duties after the Saints suffered their heaviest defeat in their history, however, the board saw the potential in the Austrian manager and decided to stick; a rare act in the unforgiving, modern game. That potential has been unleashed this season, as Southampton have won five of their opening eight Premier League fixtures. 

The focus of this article will be a tactical analysis of Southampton’s start to the 20/21 season, and how they find themselves in the Champions League spaces with Christmas fast approaching.