Arch-rivals face each other in league for first time in 13 years
Pompey searching for first league win at Saints since 1988
Recommended bet: Draw
Southampton fans have had little to smile about in 2025 following their relegation from the Premier League, but one thing their fans will have looked forward to all summer was their first meeting with arch-rivals Portsmouth, and the atmosphere should be red-hot at St Mary's on Sunday.
The Saints earned a 3-0 win at Norwich and a 2-2 draw at Watford before the international break, but will feel they need to raise their game in front of their home supporters following a 2-1 loss to Stoke the last time they were on their own patch.
Pompey have earned a win at Oxford and a draw at West Brom in their two away games, but their road record last season was poor but they should need little motivation to improve upon that against their fiercest foes.
The latest Southampton vs Portsmouth odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Southampton will have to go into the first derby of the season without full-back Welington, who has been ruled out with a knee injury, but there should be spaces in the squad for Elias Jelert, Casper Jander, Leo Scienza and Tom Fellows, who were signed during the transfer window.
Portsmouth hope to welcome back skipper Marlon Pack after a knee injury, but Callum Lang and Harvey Blair are set to miss out.
The stats
Six of Portsmouth's last seven league games have featured fewer than three goals
Pompey lost 15 of their 23 Championship away games last season
Five of Southampton's last six league matches have produced at least three goals
No Championship team conceded more away goals than Pompey's total of 50 last season
Both teams have scored in five of Portsmouth's last seven Championship road outings
Just one of Southampton's last eight home matches was a defeat by more than one goal
The latest Southampton vs Portsmouth odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
There is likely to be plenty of tension after such a long time since Southampton and Portsmouth locked horns in a league match and that could mean the two sides will be difficult to split.
Both have gained some notable results this season. Still, they could easily be staring at lower totals as the Saints needed two late goals to beat Wrexham in their opening home game.
While Pompey's 1-1 draw at West Brom looks an excellent result, they were the only team to have taken anything against the Baggies before this weekend, they rode their luck with some contentious decisions going their way.
Improving their away form will be central to Portsmouth's quest to avoid a relegation battle, and they have to show more resolve on their travels, having conceded 50 goals on the road last term.
The early signs suggest that they are doing so, and with Southampton anxious to perform at home after losing their most recent St Mary's fixture 2-1 to Stoke, these two could cancel each other out.
Back Draw at 11/4 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Southampton vs Portsmouth odds are available on LiveScore Bet
