Southampton v AFC Bournemouth betting preview: Premier League predictions & best bets for Friday Night Football clash

Recommended bets

1pt Sofiane Boufal to score anytime at 19/5

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Southampton v AFC Bournemouth

• 2000 BST kick-off on Sky Sports Premier League

A tie comically known as El Coastico in recent years, Friday Night Football has the potential for goals if you look at both attacks on show.

The south coast duo sit together in mid-table (Southampton 10th, Bournemouth ninth) and both come into this clash on the back of good victories last time out.

It really is a tough one to call in terms of the result, with a slight preference for the hosts but such to-ing and fro-ing suggests it could well be a score draw.

Bournemouth got a great home result against Everton last week and coming away from St Mary's with a point would probably be good going for them with a pretty strong start on the board, despite a number of injuries.

For that reason, other markets are preferred for the betting and, in particular, the anytime scorers.

Sofiane Boufal's Saints career looked to be over when he was loaned to Celta Vigo for the campaign last year, but he worked his way into Ralph Hasenhuttl's plans in the summer and has now secured a place in the Austrian head coach's starting XI.

Morocco forward Bouffal is expected to play a supporting role to Che Adams in the Southampton attack once again and a goal is surely around the corner. The 26-year-old has started Southampton's last three in all competitions and has already assisted two Premier League goals.

Clearly a talent, we are now starting to see the best of him again. He has had five attempts in the last two games and, considering he likes to take set pieces, the near-4/1 price on him to find the back of the net makes Bouffal well worth backing.

Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Bournemouth (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)

Best bet: Sofiane Boufal to score anytime at 19/5

Sporting Life Price Boost : Sofiane Boufal and Callum Wilson both to score - enhanced to 11/1 and available through this link

Last time out - highlights:

• Sheff United 0-1 Southampton

• Bournemouth 3-1 Everton

Opta stats

• Southampton have lost just one of their eight Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (W3 D4) and are unbeaten in all four at St Mary’s (W2 D2).
• In all competitions, Bournemouth have never won away against Southampton in 15 attempts (D6 L9), failing to score in eight of those meetings.
• Southampton have lost each of their last four home league games on a Friday, though three of those were in the Championship between 2007 and 2012.
• Bournemouth won their only previous Premier League game played on a Friday, which was also a south coast derby (2-1 vs Brighton in September 2017).
• Bournemouth have scored directly from a free-kick twice in their last three Premier League games - they had done so just once in their previous 154 games in the competition.
• Southampton have won two of their last three games in the Premier League (D1), after winning just once in their previous nine in the competition (W1 D3 L5). Saints last won consecutive league games in March.
• Since their debut in the Premier League in August 2015, both teams have scored in 88 different games involving Bournemouth; only Leicester (91) and Arsenal (90) have registered more.
• Since the start of last season, only Raheem Sterling (32) has been directly involved in more Premier League goals amongst English players than Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson (26 – 17 goals, 9 assists).
• Nathan Redmond has had a hand in 11 Premier League goals under Ralph Hasenhüttl (7 goals, 4 assists); more than he has registered under any other Southampton manager in the competition.
• Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has never won away from home in all competitions against Southampton as manager (W0 D2 L5), with his sides failing to score on five occasions. Only versus Leicester (9) has he faced more often without ever registering an away win.

Odds correct as of 1430 BST on 19/09/19

Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet@SportingLifeFC

Related football links

• Alex Keble: Weekend PL reflections
• Watch: Arsenal waste two-goal lead
• Watch: Wilson double defeats Toffees
• Watch: Saturday's Premier League highlights
• Klopp praises quality Reds
• Champions League outright preview
• Europa League outright preview
• VAR view: From an ex-PL referee
• QUIZ: Premier League hat-tricks
• Would a 'Redzone' work for PL?
• Super 6: Enter NOW!
• Fantasy Football
• Football results

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

Sky Bet's responsible gambling tools are detailed here and if you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.