Punters can expect Saints and Hammers to serve up a feast of goals at St Mary's

Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event, 7.45pm Thursday

Ralph Hasenhuttl has brought some festive fun to Southampton and his Saints side could be involved in a Christmas cracker against West Ham at St Mary's.

Southampton are favourites to make it three wins on the spin as they aim to build on victories over Arsenal and Huddersfield, although a better bet could be to take both teams to score in a match featuring over 2.5 goals.

There can be no question that there is renewed confidence around Southampton, who look more energetic and enthusiastic under Hasenhuttl than they did at virtually any stage of Mark Hughes's dour reign.

The ace Austrian coach is a man with a plan and the players have lapped up the extra training sessions, knowing that the punishing exercises are being put on to help them adapt to Hasenhuttl's high-pressing tactics.

Attacking midfielder Stuart Armstrong said after Saturday's 3-1 win at Huddersfield: "We're all working in the same direction. We all know what each other is doing, and where we are running and why we are running."

Danny Ings, scorer of two goals against Arsenal, followed that with another against Huddersfield and must be happy to see Armstrong and the rejuvenated Nathan Redmond keeping him company in advanced positions in a much more positive starting 11.

However, there is still a long way to go and Hasenhuttl may have been helped by the fixtures.

Arsenal were severely depleted by injuries and suspensions and Huddersfield have arguably the worst attack in the Premier League so the former Leipzig boss will be fully aware that a team struggling at the wrong end of the table for the past 18 months cannot be expected to become class acts almost overnight.

Saints are eight Premier League matches without a clean sheet, possibly as a consequence of the continued absence of first-choice full-backs or wing-backs Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares.

Neither is certain to return against the Hammers while key midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a definite non-runner due to suspension.

West Ham know all about having players missing with between six and ten of their squad sidelined depending on whether the medical staff are able to aid Fabian Balbuena and Javier Hernandez, who were both injured in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Watford.

The Hammers created plenty of chances in that game and are likely to do so again with Ryan Snodgrass and Felipe Anderson on the wings for a team whose expected-goals figure was over two against Watford.

Before that West Ham had scored 11 in four games but they still have a negative goal difference after conceding 27 times in 18 fixtures.

Recommendation
Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
1pt 11-10 Sky Bet

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Southampton
Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares remain doubtful. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is suspended.

West Ham
Fabio Balbuena, Lucas Perez, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez need to be assessed. Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko, Manuel Lanzini, Ryan Fredericks, Carlos Sanchez and Winston Reid remain long-term absentees.

Key stat
Seven of the last nine meetings have featured at least three goals.

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