SAINTS boss Russell Martin believes it is an exciting end to 2024 for Southampton despite a tough fixture run that includes five top-half opponents.
With 19 places and 24 points separating Southampton and league leaders Liverpool, Saints fans may not be too hopeful ahead of Sunday’s encounter at St Mary’s.
Worries may continue to grow considering that their next five games come against teams in the top-half, including Brighton, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Spurs.
However, manager Martin insists that excitement is his overriding emotion and wants others to understand that a lot can change during the busy festive period.
In his press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash, he said: “One result can change anything. It can change energy and belief, although I don’t think the player lack that but when you win, it gives you a certain level of confidence and spring in our step.
“We showed the guys what the Premier League table looked like this time last season and how much it had changed by the end of December, so it is such an exciting month.
“People talk about the difficulties of the games and the level of competition we face in the next four or five, but it is what we all work so hard for.
“Teams have shown in recent weeks that you can pick up big results against big teams and we are going to have to do that if we are going to achieve what we want to achieve and, actually, our level of performance against the teams towards the top of the table have been good, we just need to take it a step further and pick up a result.”
“We are playing the best team in the world”
Nottingham Forest are the only team to beat Liverpool so far this season in all competitions, with Arne Slot’s men also drawing once to Arsenal whilst winning the other 15.
With 21 goals scored in the league – the same amount that Southampton have conceded – Sunday’s match could be one to forget for Saints, although Martin believes that his team have done enough work to cause an upset.
He said: “I am really excited for Sunday, we are playing the best team in the world based on form and based on what they are doing, especially with their new manager.
“When you go into a club that has built on something for so long and has top players that have already bought into that, he [Slot] hasn’t needed to change too much.
“Their intensity, relentless running, the want to press, the desire to hunt the ball, they are a real top team and big credit to him for the way he has managed that.
“Of course, we look at Liverpool and at a few things we can try and capitalise on and understand their threats. We try and be better than our last game and prepare the best we can to find a way to stop the opposition and impose our own game as much as we can.
“If we stick to the gameplan and stay brave and be aggressive, then we always have a chance against anyone.”
