Advertisement

Ipswich Town v Southampton

Team news

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has confirmed midfielder Wes Burns tore his anterior cruciate ligament at Liverpool last weekend and will miss the rest of the season.

Sammie Szmodics, Conor Chaplin and Chiedozie Ogbene remain out but Jens Cajuste returns after missing the last game, with Leif Davis also available despite being withdrawn at half-time at Anfield because of illness.

Southampton wingers Kamaldeen Sulemana and Tyler Dibling are back from injuries, while Aaron Ramsdale, who missed the defeat by Newcastle, may also feature.

New signings Welington and Albert Gronbaek could come into contention, along with Jack Stephens, but this game comes too soon for Nathan Wood and Ryan Fraser.

Match facts

Head-to-head

  • Ipswich are unbeaten in the past four league encounters (W2, D2) and won both of last season's meetings in the Championship.

  • Southampton's most recent Premier League game at Portman Road was a 3-1 win in March 2002 in which Rory Delap – father of current Blues striker Liam – scored for the visitors. That is Saints' only victory in their past six top-flight visits.

Ipswich Town

  • The Blues have lost their last three matches by an aggregate score of 12-1 and have conceded four or more in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time.

  • Ipswich have lost eight of their past 11 league matches (W2, D1), keeping one clean sheet in their 19 most recent top-flight fixtures.

  • Town have had a league-low 387 touches in the opposition penalty area this season, including just seven during last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Liverpool.

  • The Tractor Boys have made a league-high 66 changes to their starting line-up this term.

  • Ipswich's last foreign-born top-flight scorer was Finidi George against Southampton in March 2002. All of their Premier League goals this season, excluding own goals, have been netted by players born in England, though Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor have been capped by the Republic of Ireland, and Sam Morsy by Egypt.

  • Liam Delap has conceded 48 fouls in this season's Premier League, second only to Wolves' Joao Gomes. He has been cautioned eight times, including five in his last eight appearances.

Southampton

  • Saints are in danger of losing seven consecutive league games for the first time in their history.

  • Their total of six points is the lowest by any side at this stage of a Premier League season.

  • Southampton have dropped 20 points from winning positions in 2024-25, second only to Tottenham.

  • Saints have won just one of their last 36 Premier League fixtures. They are on a 13-match run without victory since beating Everton at St Mary's in November.

  • They have taken two points from a possible 36 away from home this season (D2, L10), six fewer than any other side, and are winless in 19 top-flight matches on the road since beating Chelsea on 18 February 2023 (D4, L15).

  • Southampton have made 17 errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season, the most by any team in a campaign since Tottenham's tally of 21 in 2013-14.