Southampton is set to host West Ham United in the second round of the League Cup at St. Mary’s Stadium on August 26, 2026. The match is crucial for both teams as they seek to gain momentum early in the season.

West Ham has had a shaky start in the Championship, recording one loss and one draw in their first two matches. This has raised concerns among fans about the team's ambitions to return to the Premier League. A victory against Southampton is essential for West Ham to regain confidence.

On the other hand, Southampton comes into this match with a recent victory, having won 3-1 in their last Championship game. This puts them in a strong position, especially considering their impressive home record, where they have lost only once in their last 20 matches at St. Mary’s, with 17 wins and 2 draws.

However, West Ham has a historical advantage in this matchup, remaining unbeaten in their last six visits to Southampton, with three wins and three draws. This statistic could provide the necessary motivation for West Ham as they prepare for this encounter.

In terms of team news, Southampton may start Mubama as their forward, while Dobbin could replace Finn Azaz in the number 10 role. Cam Bragg is likely to take Flynn Downes' place in midfield, although Taylor Harwood-Bellis might miss out due to transfer interest from Aston Villa.

West Ham is expected to include midfielders Lewis Orford and James Ward-Prowse, along with defender Joel Veltman, to replace Arne Engels, Mohamadou Kante, and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The predicted lineups are as follows:

• Southampton (4-2-3-1): Peretz; Bree, Wood, Stephens, Manning; Matsuki, Bragg; Fellows, Dobbin, Scienza; Mubama
• West Ham (4-4-2): Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Veltman, Kilman, Scarles; Bowen, Orford, Ward-Prowse, Solomon; Castellanos, Piroe

Statistical analysis suggests that there will be at least two goals in the first half, based on recent performances from both teams. Southampton's last seven matches have seen at least two goals scored, while West Ham has similar trends in their recent games.

Overall, this match presents a significant opportunity for West Ham to advance in the League Cup, and they are predicted to emerge victorious with a scoreline of 3-1 against Southampton.