Follow live coverage as Southampton face Fulham today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Southampton FC 1 - 2 Fulham FC
Southampton vs Fulham
17:06Fulham secure a crucial three points in their slim hopes for European football, winning 2-1 away at Southampton. After being pegged back early in the first half, Fulham showed great resilience, scoring two fabulous, well-worked goals to claim the victory. Marco Silva's side now sit in eighth place - at least for now. There was an unmistakable sense of disappointment from the fans at the full-time whistle, as this result leaves them stranded on 11 points - the joint lowest total in Premier League history. The Saints had their moments throughout the game, but it always felt inevitable that they would concede chances - and that’s exactly what happened, with Fulham registering 2.16 xG compared to Southampton’s 0.56. Fulham face a direct rival for European places in Aston Villa next weekend, while Southampton take on already-relegated Leicester in a must-win game to salvage some pride this season. That's all we have time for this afternoon. It's goodbye for now!
Southampton vs Fulham
16:57FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-2 FULHAM
Southampton vs Fulham
16:57Southampton fire in a dangerous cross after Smith Rowe gives up possession, but that's it! The referee blows for full time and it's another defeat for Southampton.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:56Southampton are throwing everything at it now. A loss would leave them stuck on that dreaded 11-point mark...
Southampton vs Fulham
16:53Assist Adama Traoré Diarra
Southampton vs Fulham
16:52Goal Kouassi Ryan Sessegnon
Southampton vs Fulham
16:50Jimenez backs into Bednarek, but the Polish defender holds his ground, earning Southampton a crucial free-kick as the fourth official signals a minimum of six additional minutes.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:48Traore drives Southampton deeper into their own half and wins a corner. The pressure is clearly starting to tell on Southampton.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:46Iwobi, who got the assist for Fulham's equaliser, is replaced by skipper Cairney.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:46WHAT A DIFFERENCE SMITH ROWE HAS MADE!! Smith Rowe picks up the ball just inside the box, and with two quick touches, he curls an effort towards the bottom left-hand corner, forcing his former teammate Ramsdale into an excellent save.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:46Substitution Harry Wilson Carlos Vinícius Alves Morais
Southampton vs Fulham
16:42IWOBI SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER! Sessegnon is played through by Smith Rowe, and his cross flashes across goal, just evading Iwobi, who really should have made better contact!
Southampton vs Fulham
16:41Fulham look rejuvenated after their equaliser and are now pushing for a winner as we approach the final ten minutes.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:40Sulemana is replaced by the exciting teenager Dibling. Can he spark inspiration into his Southampton side as they look to regain the lead?
Southampton vs Fulham
16:34GOALLLLLLLL!!!!! SMITH ROWE LEVELS FOR FULHAM!!!! 1-1!!! The substitute makes an instant impact, levelling the score for Fulham! His first touch sparked the move, and his shot takes a deflection off Bednarek, looping over Ramsdale into the net!
Southampton vs Fulham
16:34Assist Alexander Chuka Iwobi
Southampton vs Fulham
16:34Jimenez is also shown a yellow card for a cheeky kick out at Bednarek off the pitch.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:34Sulemana is late on Andersen and receives the first booking of the afternoon.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:33Archer bursts down the right flank and his cross-come-shot strikes the upright, with Fulham looking to break again.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:28Smith Rowe comes on for Fulham, replacing Willian - arguably their best player today - suggesting the change may be due to fitness concerns...
Southampton vs Fulham
16:25Substitution Ross Cameron Stewart Cameron Desmond Archer
Southampton vs Fulham
16:25Jimenez has had six attempts on goal this afternoon but is still searching for his first shot on target. Is it only a matter of time before the Fulham talisman levels the game?
Southampton vs Fulham
16:23Willian appears to be shoved off balance as his shot drifts past the post, but the referee sees nothing wrong with it. The Brazilian is not happy with the referee's judgement...
Southampton vs Fulham
16:23WALKER-PETERS FORCES A HUGE SAVE!! Leno pulls off a brilliant stop after Walker-Peters drives into the penalty area and cuts his shot across the German goalkeeper.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:19Stewart holds the ball up well in Fulham's half and wins a throw-in for his side. The Scot has been isolated up front all game but is handling it well.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:17Stephens is down and receiving treatment. The defender has been excellent so far and would be a significant loss to his side should he have to come off.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:16WILLIAN HITS THE POST!!! Substitute Traore does superbly to cut inside the box and find Willian, whose curling effort away from the goal hits the post. Fulham’s best chance of the game!
Southampton vs Fulham
16:13Stewart and Manning have a mix-up, and the ball goes out for Fulham's first corner of the second half.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:13Jimenez rolls Bednarek on the halfway line and is fortunate not to receive a yellow card after bringing him down.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:10Ugochukwu drives forward quickly and plays in Sulemana, whose curling right-footed shot is blocked.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:08Fulham have come out the traps quickly, applying pressure in search of an early equaliser.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:04Wilson gets Fulham going in the second half.
Southampton vs Fulham
16:04Substitution Sander Gard Bolin Berge Saša Lukić
Southampton vs Fulham
16:04Substitution Andreas Hugo Hoelgebaum Pereira Adama Traoré Diarra
Southampton vs Fulham
15:58Although Fulham have generated more expected goals, 0.66 to Southampton’s 0.39, the Saints took their only real chance wonderfully. They are now 49.5% favourites to win the game, according to Opta's Live Win Probability calculator.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:54Southampton lead 1-0 at the break, and it's been relatively comfortable for them. Fulham have struggled to create much, relying mainly on crosses into a crowded penalty area - something Marco Silva will undoubtedly address at half-time. Stephens scored with a brilliant header from Manning’s perfectly delivered free-kick from the left, a ball that couldn't have been placed any better. The Saints are on track for their first Premier League win since February, which would also be their first victory against a team in the top half of the table this season.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:49HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 FULHAM
Southampton vs Fulham
15:48Fulham are pushing for an equaliser before half-time, but Southampton are defending resolutely.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:47There will be two minutes of additional time in the first half.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:46Tete sends in a low cross to Jimenez, but the Mexican blasts it over the bar on the volley.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:45Jimenez finds plenty of space in the penalty area after a cross into the box, but he pulls his shot wide of Ramsdale's goal. A let-off for the Saints.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:44STEPHENS STOPS A CERTAIN GOAL! The goalscorer crucially intercepts Pereira's cross, denying a certain tap-in at the back post.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:42Stewart stops Pereira, and Fulham win another free-kick, this time on the right side of the box.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:41Iwobi floats in a ball to the back post, but only towards Pereira, as it runs out for a goal-kick. Fulham are struggling to get bodies into the box.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:39Walker-Peters chases down Sessegnon to the by-line and wins his team a throw-in right by Fulham's corner flag.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:37Tete delivers a dangerous ball into the box, but Ramsdale comfortably collects it.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:35Sulemana narrowly avoids a challenge from Andersen inside the penalty area, staying on his feet to take a weak shot that fails to trouble Leno.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:32Pereira delivers another corner, finding Jimenez at the near post, but he can only manage a backheel flick before the ball is cleared.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:32Ramsdale clears the ball out of play after having to adjust his feet with Jimenez closing in.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:31Fulham have struggled to gain control since the goal, with only a handful of corner-kicks to show for their efforts.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:28The duo of Wilson and Pereira make a complete mess of it and Fulham gift Southampton a free-kick in their penalty area.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:27Fulham have a free-kick just outside the box after Wilson is caught by Sulemana.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:24The Saints' defence remains compact, limiting options for Fulham.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:23Fulham win a corner straight after the penalty appeal, but fail to create anything in a crowded penalty area.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:21STEWART WANTS A PENALTY! Walker-Peters plays a great ball to Stewart, but he takes too long to pull the trigger and feels he’s fouled by Bassey. However, the referee waves play on.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:21Walker-Peters gives the ball away in midfield cheaply, and Fulham look to capitalise, but their cross is comfortably dealt with.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:18The goalscorer Stephens goes down immediately after the restart, claiming he was fouled.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:15Assist Ryan Phelim Manning
Southampton vs Fulham
15:14Goal Jack Stephens
Southampton vs Fulham
15:14WILLIAN GOES CLOSE! The Brazilian cuts onto his right foot and creates space for a curling effort that beats Ramsdale, only to sail just wide of the post.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:12Harwood-Bellis clears a direct, lobbed ball into the heart of the Saints' defence, with Jiménez lurking in case it wasn’t dealt with.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:12Sessegnon has a couple of clipped efforts cleared away following a fluid exchange with Willian down the left-hand side.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:10Downes, who has seen plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges, wins a free-kick in his own half after being fouled by Andersen.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:08Walker-Peters drives down the right after a good spell of Saints possession, but fails to carve out a chance.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:06Downes looks to break forward with Fernandes, but a loose pass hands possession back to the Cottagers.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:04Fulham are awarded a corner following a period of pressure on the left flank. Pereira has created more chances from set-pieces than any other player in the Premier League this season.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:03Possession is shared in the midfield area, with neither team pressing aggressively in the opening exchanges.
Southampton vs Fulham
15:01Fernandes gets us under way!
Southampton vs Fulham
14:58The players are out, and according to Opta’s Live Win Probability calculator, Fulham are clear favourites with a 56.6% chance of victory, while Southampton are given just a 19.7% chance.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:40Wilson and Willian come into Marco Silva’s side, replacing Sasa Lukic and the absent club captain Antonee Robinson. Sessegnon will move from the right side of attack to left-back, showcasing his versatility.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:40Simon Rusk makes one change to the side that drew with West Ham, as Stewart comes in for club top scorer Paul Onuachu, who is missing from the Saints squad.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34FULHAM SUBS: Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney, Adama Traore, Carlos Vinicius, Jorge Cuenca, Sasa Lukic, Timothy Castagne, Steven Benda, Emile Smith Rowe.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Ryan Sessegnon, Calvin Bassey, Joachim Andersen, Kenny Tete; Andreas Pereira, Sander Berge; Alex Iwobi, Harry Wilson, Willian; Raul Jimenez.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Alex McCarthy, Joe Aribo, Will Smallbone, James Bree, Nathan Wood, Cameron Archer, Tyler Dibling, Welington, Jay Robinson.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Aaron Ramsdale; Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Taylor Harwood-Bellis; Ryan Manning, Lesley Ugochukwu, Flynn Downes, Kyle Walker-Peters; Mateus Fernandes, Kamaldeen Sulemana; Ross Stewart.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34Marco Silva’s Fulham sit ninth in the Premier League after back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea, losing ground on the teams chasing European spots. The Cottagers haven’t suffered three consecutive losses since December 2023 and will be aiming to get back on track with a win on the south coast this afternoon. The last time these two sides met at St Mary’s, Fulham’s 2-0 victory sealed Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34Southampton head into their final five games with their fate already sealed: relegation. Interim manager Simon Rusk will be eager to end the season on a positive note and lift the Saints off the 11-point mark - a total that matches the joint-lowest in Premier League history. They come into this match following a 1-1 draw with West Ham, but are still searching for their first victory since early February.
Southampton vs Fulham
14:34Hello and welcome to live text commentary of this Premier League clash between Southampton and Fulham at the St Mary’s Stadium
Southampton vs Fulham
13:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
