Southampton play host to Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday looking to recover from the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, which was followed by their Europa League exit on Thursday night.

The Eagles went into the clash on the back of six successive defeats while Saints had picked up consecutive wins – against Everton in the league and Arsenal in the EFL Cup – which should have seen them in high spirits.

However, the performance was flat and mistakes cost Claude Puel’s men, and they will want to bounce back when they welcome the side directly below them in the standings to St Mary’s this weekend.

Boro picked up only their second win since August as they beat Hull 1-0 on Monday night, and they will want to claim another impressive result on the road – Aitor Karanka’s team have drawn away at Arsenal and Manchester City already this term.

The two teams have scored 13 goals each from their 14 top flight matches to date – only Hull City and Burnley have netted less – which suggest it could be a low-scoring affair on the south coast.

Here are three key battles that could decide where the match will be won and lost…

Virgil van Dijk vs Alvaro Negredo

Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring against Inter Milan

Time and time again, Van Dijk is proving that he is head and shoulders above his Southampton teammates.

The Dutchman was on the scoresheet late on against Hapoel Be’er Sheva, but it wasn’t enough to see Saints through to the knockout stages of the competition.

The former Celtic man will face another physical battle on Sunday when he comes up against Alvaro Negredo, who ended a goal drought that stretched back to the opening day of the season by scoring a brace in the 2-2 draw with Leicester City a fortnight ago.

Gaston Ramirez vs Cedric Soares

Britain Football Soccer - Middlesbrough v Hull City - Premier League - The Riverside Stadium - 5/12/16 Middlesbrough's Gaston Ramirez celebrates scoring their first goal with Adam Clayton and Alvaro Negredo Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player pub

Former Saint Ramirez has been one of Boro’s players of the season so far and he was instrumental in their 1-0 win against Hull at the Riverside Stadium on Monday night, scoring the only goal of the game.

That was his second of the campaign – while he has also provided two assists – and he will surely want to make an impression against the team that released him earlier this year.

Tasked with stopping the Uruguayan from the left flank will be Cedric Soares, who has impressed both defensively and going forward in Southampton’s last two league matches at St Mary’s, with the club failing to concede a goal.

Dusan Tadic vs Adam Clayton

Britain Football Soccer - Southampton v Chelsea - Premier League - St Mary's Stadium - 30/10/16 Southampton's Dusan Tadic Reuters / Toby Melville Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Tadic hasn't started a game since breaking his nose whilst on international duty with Serbia last month, and Saints have certainly missed the 28-year-old’s creativity while he has been on the sidelines.

Claude Puel’s men have netted just once in their last three Premier League fixtures and they will hope that the returning Tadic can unlock a solid Boro defence.

The player in defensive midfield for the visitors – who will have to deal with the Serbian playmaker – is Adam Clayton. He will know that if he can keep Tadic quiet, it could just help his side pick up a clean sheet at St Mary’s.