Middlesbrough vs Southampton Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Match Details: 4th January | Riverside Stadium | Championship | 15:00

Southampton make the long trip up north as they face Middlesbrough in what is both clubs second game of 2026. Both teams are evenly matched heading into this one and both sides will be hoping for all three points.

Middlesbrough have hit a really bad run of form in their last four games, losing three of them and drawing once. What's most alarming however is the fact that they've failed to score in all four of those games, and in those games they've been the better side but have failed to convert any chances. They'll be hoping to cash in on some xG on Sunday.

The Saints too are in a bit of a rut at the moment, they're winless in five and despite having a good start to life without Will Still they've certainly slowed down and will be hoping to end this bad run of form with a win at the Riverside

Key Betting Tip: Middlesbrough to win and BTTS @ 3.75 represents excellent value based on the tip provided by our team of in-house tipsters.

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Predicted Lineups

Middlesbrough predicted XI: Brynn, Brittain, Ayling, Targett, Bangura, Browne, Gilbert, Whittaker, Hackney, Sene, Conway

Southampton predicted XI: Bazunu, Stephens, wood, Harwood-Bellis, Manning, Jander, Downes, Fellows, Azaz, Robinson, Armstrong

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Current League Standings

With this poor run of form Middlesbrough have slipped out of the automatic places as Ipswich have replaced them, they are on 43 points from 25 games and are just one point behind Ipswich who are in second, however they are just three points from falling out of the play offs altogether

Southampton are nestled in mid table. After a very poor stint with Will Still they've slowly climbed their way up and now sit on 33 points from their 25 games. They are seven points from the play offs and will be hoping to make a statement win come Sunday

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Head-to-Head Timeline

The last time these two met was back in September where the points were shared in a 1-1 draw thanks to goals from Armstrong and Sene.

Recent head to head results:

• September 2025: Southampton 1-1 Middlesbrough
• March 2024: Southampton 1-1 Middlesbrough
• September 2023: Middlesbrough 2-1 Southampton
• May 2017: Middlesbrough 1-2 Southampton
• December 2016: Southampton 1-0 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough last five matches:

• Middlesbrough 3-1 QPR (Championship)
• Bristol City 2-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)
• Middlesbrough 0-0 Blackburn (Championship)
• Middlesbrough 0-1 Hull (Championship)
• Derby 1-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)

Southampton last five matches:

• Norwich 2-1 Southampton (Championship)
• Southampton 1-1 Coventry (Championship)
• Oxford Utd 2-1 Southampton (Championship)
• Birmingham 1-1 Southampton (Championship)
• Southampton 0-0 Millwall (Championship)

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses over 200 data points to generate these predictions and has confidence with Middlesbrough winning and both teams scoring.

Key Players to Watch: Middlesbrough vs Southampton

Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough): The Englishman is Middlesbroughs top scorer of the season with eight goals in the Championship so far, he's failed to score in his last four but before that he scored in six consecutive matches and will be wanting to end his goal drought come Sunday

Finn Azaz (Southampton): After making the switch from Middlesbrough to the Saints he will be returning to play against his former club, the 25 year old has managed seven goals and four assists so far this Championship campaing and has been a key part to this Southampton side

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Match Facts

Broadcast Details: Unknown

Stadium Information: The Riverside Stasdium is hosting, it can hold up to 34,988 making it the second biggest ground in the Championship by capacity only missing out on the top spot to Hillsborough

Referee: Oliver Langford