Southampton’s Christmas crackers

Sofiane Boufal vs Sunderland (October 26)

Sofiane Boufal cost Southampton a club record £16 million in the summer, and he is slowly beginning to repay a bit of that money.

He has scored twice for the Saints this season, and both have been absolute crackers.

But the one selected is his fine strike against Sunderland, as it has helped the side reach the last four of the League Cup, and within two games of their second ever League Cup final.

Boufal exquisitely controlled Jose Fonte’s long ball forward before cutting inside onto his right foot, and firing the ball past Jordan Pickford from just inside the penalty area.

It secured the win for the Saints, and indeed indicated Boufal’s undoubted talent which Southampton fans are beginning to see more readily.