EPL: Stoke City v Southampton preview

Stoke City v Southampton preview

Goals could be at a premium at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday when Stoke and Southampton go head-to-head.

The Potters have only netted five goals in their six Premier League matches to date this term, while they have drawn a blank in each of their last two matches in league and cup.

Indeed Mark Hughes's side are without a win in any of their last five games and they were thumped 4-0 by Chelsea on home soil last weekend.

Stoke do have a good recent record against Southampton, however, as they have only lost one of the last five meetings between the two sides, although that defeat did come on home soil in March 2016.

The Potters will head into the match with a host of defensive concerns, as Bruno Martins Indi joins fellow centre backs Kevin Wimmer and Ryan Shawcross on the sidelines.

Kurt Zouma is available to return after missing last week's defeat to his parent club Chelsea, while Geoff Cameron could also be in line for a recall.

Only Swansea and Crystal Palace have scored less top-flight goals than Southampton this season, and the Saints have now failed to net in 10 of their last 14 league games stretching back to last season.

The Saints are unbeaten in their last four away matches in the league, however, and they have only conceded one goal during that time.

Boss Mauricio Pellegrino must decide whether to hand Virgil van Dijk his first start of the season, as the centre back is now fully fit following a long layoff with a foot injury.