Southampton fixtures 2017/18: Saints host Swansea for Premier League opener and Manchester City at home on final day
SOUTHAMPTON finished eighth last time around but made a lot of friends in making the EFL Cup final and losing 3-2 to Manchester United.
But manager Claude Puel's defensive-minded tactics in the Premier League, especially after a bright Wembley showing, brought his position clearly into focus and he paid the price when sacked on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel has dealt Southampton a blow by rejecting the chance to become their new boss — leaving Frank de Boer as clear run at the job, with Ryan Giggs also interested.
It remains to be seen if star men Virgil van Wijk and Dusan Tadic remain at St Mary's for the Premier League kick-off against Swansea.
Southampton fixtures 2017/18
August
12 Swansea (h)
19 West Ham (a)
26 Huddersfield (a)
September
9 Watford (h)
16 Crystal Palace (a)
23 Man Utd (h)
30 Stoke (a)
October
14 Newcastle (h)
21 West Brom (h)
28 Brighton (a)
November
4 Burnley (h)
18 Liverpool (a)
25 Everton (h)
29 Man City (a)
December
2 Bournemouth (a)
9 Arsenal (h)
13 Leicester (h)
16 Chelsea (a)
23 Huddersfield (h)
26 Tottenham (a)
30 Man Utd (a)
January
1 Crystal Palace (h)
13 Watford (a)
20 Tottenham (h)
31 Brighton (h)
February
3 West Brom (a)
10 Liverpool (h)
24 Burnley (a)
March
3 Stoke (h)
10 Newcastle (a)
17 Swansea (a)
31 West Ham (h)
April
7 Arsenal (a)
14 Chelsea (h)
21 Leicester (a)
28 Bournemouth (h)
May
5 Everton (a)
13 Man City (h)
When does the 2017/18 Premier League season start and end?
The season kicks off on August 12, 2017 and concludes on May 13.
What are the title odds?
9/4 Man City
11/4 Man Utd
3/1 Chelsea
8/1 Tottenham
11/1 Liverpool
14/1 Arsenal