With a welcome reprieve from Premier League action, Southampton aims to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup as they host Stoke City at St Mary's.

Providing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging 2024-25 season, the EFL Cup has given Southampton a couple of morale-boosting victories, starting with a thrilling 5-3 win over Cardiff City, followed by a memorable night at Goodison Park.

Despite their success in the EFL Cup, Southampton remains without a Premier League win after nine matches this season, following a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, where an early goal from Erling Haaland sealed their fate. While manager Russell Martin still has the backing of club officials, his team has now suffered four consecutive losses since winning the Championship playoffs.

Meanwhile, Stoke City also showcased their penalty shootout skills in the third round of the EFL Cup. They were on the brink of victory against Fleetwood Town in regular time, only for the League Two side to equalize in the dying moments. The Potters managed to convert two of their penalties, aided by Viktor Johansson's crucial double save, despite only three successful spot-kicks from nine taken.

Stoke's appearance in the fourth round marks their best EFL Cup run since the 2021-22 season when they were eliminated by Brentford at this stage. However, their Championship campaign has been less impressive, with just one win in their last seven matches, including a recent 2-0 loss to Sheffield United that ended a four-match unbeaten streak.

Prediction: Southampton 

Southampton vs Stoke City stream and TV listing

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