In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Kevin Phillips thinks that Southampton will stay in the Premier League, but has warned his former side not to get complacent.
Saints topped the Premier League in November, but since beating Liverpool in their first game of 2021, have endured a horrible run of results – with their defeat to South Coast rivals Brighton on Sunday their 10th in their previous 12 matches.
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Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men appeared to be keeping at arm’s length from the relegation-zone following victory over Sheffield United earlier this month, but Fulham’s win at Anfield the same weekend kept the Saints in touch with the bottom-three.
Southampton are currently seven points above Scott Parker’s team, although with the St Mary’s outfit in FA Cup action this weekend, that gap could be cut to just four by the time they return to Premier League action after the international break, with Fulham hosting Leeds and Brighton and Newcastle facing off.
Despite his concerns, Phillips doesn’t believe his former side will get relegated, but has warned Southampton to be wary of a “very good” Fulham outfit.
He told Football FanCast: “I did an interview a couple of weeks ago, and I said that I can’t see them getting dragged in, but football changes so quickly – the emergence of how Fulham are playing and that result up at Anfield would have done them the world of good.
“Will they get sucked in? I’m going to put my head on the block and say no, I think they’re always liable to pick up a result when you’re least expecting it.
“But saying that, they can’t be complacent. They need to get some more points on the board, and the nearer we get to the end of the season the closer you are to the bottom of that league, and I know I’ve been there with Southampton being relegated, the pressure builds and players start not performing and making mistakes. Fulham are a very good side.”