Soccer Premier League

5 Bold Predictions For Southampton vs. Stoke City In EPL Week 9

5 Bold Predictions For Southampton vs. Stoke City

Mark Hughes
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This coming weekend, in-form Southampton welcome battling Stoke City to St Mary's in a Week 9 encounter. No doubt, The Saints are firm favorites to come away with all three points, but there's always the worry of complacency, particularly as the visitors are renowned for their capacity to cause an upset. Who'll come out on top? Will Ronald Koeman's charges get another win? Take a look at these five bold predictions.

5. Saints To Embroil Themselves In Battle

Ronald Koeman
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5. Saints To Embroil Themselves In Battle

Ronald Koeman
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Fresh from their 8-0 demolition of Sunderland on Saturday afternoon, Ronald Koeman's charges are favorites to thrash Stoke City as well. And although they're not going to lose the run of themselves any time soon, it's likely confidence will be sky-high, something that could creep into their play. Stoke are a hardy bunch and will put up way more of a fight than Gus Poyet's charges did. This one will be close and hugely entertaining.

4. Long To Continue Goalless

Shane Long
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4. Long To Continue Goalless

Shane Long
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If you can't seem to find the net in an 8-0 rout, something's up. Although Southampton supporters will be blissfully unaware due to how stellar the rest of the strike force has been, Shane Long's drought is bound to become a problem soon. Stoke are capable of shutting offensive sides down, and the Republic of Ireland star will likely find his advances thoroughly rejected.

3. Pelle To Strike Once More

Graziano Pelle
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3. Pelle To Strike Once More

Graziano Pelle
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Perhaps it's too early to suggest, but Graziano Pelle has probably already signaled his exit from St Mary's with his early-season displays. Despite how much better his side are doing than many of the bigger teams, greener pastures will be difficult to turn down when they inevitably come calling. Until then, he has a club to keep happy, and another brace this weekend would go some way to doing just that.

2. Moses Will Prove A Handful

Victor Moses
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2. Moses Will Prove A Handful

Victor Moses
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The combination of Peter Crouch and Victor Moses has produced a few fantastic end results for The Potters in the past few weeks, and Mark Hughes will look to them as his best chance of getting something out of Saturday's showdown. Pacey, muscular and with a powerful shot, the former Chelsea midfielder has the necessary qualities to test Fraser Forster in the Saints' goals.

1. Tadic To Prove Key

Dusan Tadic
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1. Tadic To Prove Key

Dusan Tadic
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An impressive hoard of four assists and a goal against The Black Cats underlined just how influential Dusan Tadic can be on his day. And if Southampton are to bring their win total up to six league matches, he'll need to be on his game once more.

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