Below-par Tottenham lose ground on rivals as Harry Kane's 99th goal secures draw at Southampton

That is all from me, thanks for following along. IBTimes UK will be back tomorrow night to bring you live coverage of that clash between Swansea and Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium.

Until then, it's goodbye.

Southampton's miserable winless league run extends to 11 games and they remain in the bottom three, but it was another improved showing that should help to gently ease at least some of the pressure on Pellegrino.

They entertain Watford in the cup next weekend before crucial top-flight matches against Brighton and West Brom.

A below-par performance and a missed opportunity for Spurs, who really struggled without Eriksen's creativity. They could have moved level on points with fourth-place Liverpool but will now fall five off the pace if the latter beat Swansea tomorrow night.

Pochettino's side travel to Newport in the FA Cup fourth round next before a brutal stretch of games that includes successive matches against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Juventus.

Full-time

Southampton 1-1 Tottenham

Obafemi puts Vorm under some late pressure before Sanchez makes a great sliding challenge to dispossesses Boufal.

Will there be one final chance for Spurs?

Pochettino looks incredulous as Wanyama lets fly from miles out with a dreadful effort that sails high into the stands.

Hardly known for his scoring prowess.

Kane takes a touch away from Cedric with his right foot before skewing a shot wide of the post with his left after being played in by Alli.

Five minutes of added time to be played at St Mary's. This could still go either way.

Terrific blocks at each end deny both Boufal and Lamela.

You sense there might be a winner coming here...

That was the chance!

Southampton work it nicely through midfield and Tadic fires across an inviting ball for Obafemi.

However, the teenager cannot make enough contact and the ball ends up bouncing wide off his heel.

Sissoko gets some luck as his initial cross comes back off Bertrand and he knocks the ball inside for Lamela, who declines to shoot straightaway and sees his close-range effort deflected behind off Stephens.

Amazingly, the officials award a goal kick. Boos for ex-Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama as he replaces Dembele.

17-year-old Obafemi, a Republic of Ireland youth international, becomes the second-youngest player in Saints history as he comes on in place of Gabbiadini.

Time to make yourself a hero, young man!

Davis for Lemina is Pellegrino's second change.

Alli is put clean through on goal by Kane and knocks the ball wide long after being flagged offside by the referee's assistant.

No consistency from Kevin Friend as he books Trippier for a similar foul on Boufal. Sissoko again rises to clear Ward-Prowse's free-kick.

This has become a really scrappy game.

Tottenham look to launch a quick counter-attack after Sissoko clears Ward-Prowse's latest free-kick.

However, Alli is cynically stopped by a foul from Lemina, who is also afforded some leniency.

Dembele catches Bertrand with a high left arm and the home fans cheer ironically as his run of fouls without a booking finally comes to an end.

Two apiece now in terms of yellow cards.

Aurier looks to have picked up a knock here and asks to come off. Kieran Trippier slots in at right-back.

Vertonghen's skidding low shot from distance fails to trouble McCarthy.

Lamela on for Son.

Gabbiadini sees a tame effort saved by Vorm and Kane's shot is deflected behind by Stephens after Sissoko seizes upon a poor clearance from Hoedt.

Davies' latest in-swinging corner from the right is confidently claimed by McCarthy as Lamela waits to enter the fray.

Alli, who boasts an excellent scoring record against Southampton, gets the ball from Dembele and shifts it quickly out of his feet before dragging a low shot through the defender's legs and wide.

The first change of the match from either side takes 65 minutes to arrive. Pellegrino sends on Sofiane Boufal in place of Hojbjerg.

A very marginal-looking offside decision goes against Gabbiadini as the Italian striker drifts in behind Sanchez and collects a lofted pass from Hojbjerg.

Dier thought he was caught by a cynical elbow from Tadic a few moments ago and the argument continues, with referee Friend now stepping in.

Kane miscues a volley from Davies' corner and is dispossessed at the second attempt by Romeu.

Romeu becomes the latest player to be booked for a foul on Alli.

Davies' overhit ball from the left wing drops behind Bertrand but Sanchez is unable to keep it in play.

"Pochettino, he left 'cause you're s**t" is the chant coming from the away end...

Sissoko goes in late on Bertrand and joins Stephens in the book.

A break in play now as Lemina receives treatment. Pellegrino is unhappy with his slightly cavalier defence and relays a message to Hoedt on the touchline.

Southampton putting some pressure on now as Davies heads Tadic's cross away from Hojbjerg and Cedric's next delivery falls safe.

Dembele commits another poor challenge on Oriol Romeu and somehow gets off without a yellow.

The first real shot of the second half comes from Ward-Prowse, who fires straight at Vorm to cap off a swift Southampton break.

McCarthy hacks the ball clear under pressure from Son and Vertonghen uses his strength to outmuscle Hojbjerg at the other end.

Stephens tussles with Kane just inside the Southampton half and is booked for his overly physical approach.

Back off and running at St Mary's. No personnel changes from either manager as of yet.

Ruthless.

Not a bad opening 45 by any stretch of the imagination, despite the inclement weather on the south coast.

Southampton started well as they used their left flank to good effect and Bertrand forced that error from Sanchez, but shoddy set-piece defending let them down as Kane strolled in to make it 99 Premier League goals and counting.

Half-time

Southampton 1-1 Tottenham

Bertrand blocks Aurier's low centre and Tadic works tirelessly to stop the ball from going out for a corner.

It does not matter anyway as the referee blows for half-time.

One minute of added time signalled by the fourth official. This first half has flown by.

Stephens gets caught under a left-wing cross from Davies. Kane brings it down well before being denied by a strong block from Hoedt.

Lemina tries his luck again at the other end after receiving possession from Gabbiadini, but Vorm is equal to it.

Another Dembele foul on Hojbjerg leads to a warning from the referee.

With Southampton sitting too deep, Aurier tees up Dier for a low strike that is well held by Alex McCarthy.

Ward-Prowse delivers a peach of a free-kick from the right after Dembele fouls Hojbjerg and Stephens, unmarked as he slips into the open space between Kane and Dier, sends a powerful header agonisingly wide of Vorm's left-hand post.

What a ball in.

Ward-Prowse is fortunate to avoid a caution after retaliating to a fair sliding challenge from Vertonghen. Just a stern warning from referee Friend.

Cedric and Ward-Prowse struggle to clear an Aurier cross and Sissoko deflects Davies' follow-up ball wide.

Some nice interplay between Alli and Kane in the box almost led to another Spurs opening.

Lemina fires over from the edge of the box after being teed up by Tadic, who inadvertently played Cedric Soares' looping cross off Aurier.

Almost another golden opportunity for Spurs but Alli cannot quite turn the ball inside to Kane, who can smell his top-flight century.

The two teams exchange a flurry of corners before Mousa Dembele stops Tadic in his tracks.

Southampton's set-piece defending has been woeful during these opening exchanges and Kane takes full advantage, breezing past Jack Stephens and soaring above Gabbiadini to head home Ben Davies' corner.

That's the 99th Premier League goal of his career. Southampton's lead lasted all of three minutes.

Goal: Southampton 1-1 Tottenham (Harry Kane)

Almost an instant reply from Spurs. Bertrand fails to clear his lines after Vertonghen gets his head to a set-piece and Dier crashes a shot off the outside of the post.

Disaster for Tottenham as Southampton take the lead inside the first 15 minutes.

Most of the Saints' early threat has come down that left flank and this time Ryan Bertrand provides the perfect overlap for Tadic before firing in a low cross that a sliding Sanchez turns into his own net off the post.

Goal: Southampton 1-0 Tottenham (Davinson Sanchez OG)

Hoedt heads behind after Alli peels off Lemina and is left completely unmarked in the Southampton box.

Before that, a whipped right-wing delivery went beyond Gabbiadini and Hojbjerg was unable to turn Tadic's follow-up cross home from close range.

Eric Dier lofts the ball into the Southampton penalty area and Alli gets in behind Wesley Hoedt before seeing it bounce off his leg and into the path of the Dutch defender.

The rain is falling heavily at St Mary's and apparently causing a problem with the officials' communication system.

Tadic looks to cause Serge Aurier problems before Ward-Prowse slices a long-range shot well wide.

There's certainly a lot of it going around...

Almost a real chance for Gabbiadini, but he hesitates slightly on Dusan Tadic's low cross after James Ward-Prowse - scorer of Southampton's last three goals across all competitions - dispossesses Dele Alli and quickly sprays the ball out to the left flank.

Vorm comes out and smothers it before Hojbjerg can get there.

Referee Kevin Friend blows his whistle and Southampton, averaging just a goal a game, immediately get the ball forward.

After Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's headed knockdown, Gabbiadini turns Davison Sanchez before firing an early warning shot into the hands of Vorm.

After a minute's applause to pay tribute to the late Cyrille Regis, we are ready to get underway.

Like every other team this weekend, both sets of players are wearing black armbands in memory of the pioneering former West Brom, Coventry and England striker, who died suddenly last Sunday night aged 59.

Five minutes remaining until kick-off.

Here's what he had to say on his latest return to St Mary's...

It's so special for me. I spent an amazing time - one and a half years, amazing for us and our families. Today was our debut against Everton, five years ago, we played our first game. We knew one or two words in English in that moment.

It was fantastic. Southampton opened the door to England, the Premier League and then to myself, opened a different language for me. That is so important to me.

I'm so proud after five years how I talk in front of you. With a few lessons, not too much. I'm so proud to be part of the Saints history, it means a lot. A lot of people we love, sure they love us. Always it's special to play there.

Spurs are also yet to make any new signings this month, instead loaning out the likes of Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Marcus Edwards and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

"To be honest, it's difficult but in some point you always dream," Pochettino said when asked about transfers at his pre-match press conference on Friday. "But not too much exciting. If happen, it happens, if not happen, then not happen. We're happy with the squad."

He described suggestions that Chelsea have made a bid to sign back-up striker Fernando Llorente as simply a "rumour".

The Saints have yet to spend any of that £75m windfall received from the record sale of centre-back Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool.

They were beaten by Everton in their attempts to bring Theo Walcott back to Hampshire, while reports suggest they are hoping to seal a £50m double deal for Monaco striker Guido Carillo and Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes.

Pellegrino has warned about the dangers of rushing into too many deals that may not improve the current squad, but is "optimistic that in the next few days something significant will happen".

Despite Southampton's recent troubles, Pellegrino insists he is not concerned about his future...

I am not worried about my job, in the future. Even in difficult situations I enjoy my job, obviously I am happier when the fans are proud of the team. But in football, in sport, if you don't want to be in difficult situations, don't play the game, stay at home and don't play the game.

I want to play the game, even given the consequences. If you play the game in difficult situations and move forward, you will be stronger. We are building something not just for the next two games, it's for the future. I feel I am growing, and I am learning too.

Their only defeat came in May 2016, when a goal in each half from Davis at White Hart Lane cancelled out Heung-Min Son's early opener.

By that stage Tottenham had already been forced to cede the title to Leicester.

Confirmation from Spurs, who recently travelled to Barcelona for a mid-season training camp, that Lloris and Eriksen are both ill rather than injured...

Lloris does indeed miss out for Tottenham, meaning that Michel Vorm starts in goal with former Saint Paulo Gazzaniga among the substitutes.

Christian Eriksen is also absent through illness, with Pochettino opting to select Moussa Sissoko - and not Erik Lamela - as his replacement.

Juan Foyth also comes onto the bench.

Two changes from Southampton, with Mario Lemina and Manolo Gabbiadini both drafted into the starting XI. Captain Steven Davis drops to the bench and Shane Long misses out altogether.

Nathan Redmond is back among the substitutes after being omitted last weekend due to what Pellegrino described as a tactical decision.

Josh Sims gives up his seat on the bench to another youngster in teenage striker Michael Obafemi.

The gloomy weather on the south coast this afternoon rather accurately reflects the current mood around Southampton...

While we await official team news from St Mary's, here is IBTimes UK's story on that surprise Watford dismissal of Marco Silva including a quite remarkable club statement that appears to lay most of the blame at Everton's door.

The Hornets are expected to appoint former Malaga and Rubin Kazan boss Javi Gracia as their 10th manager in less than six years over the next 48 hours.

The England talisman is now just two shy of a Premier League century after a brace against Everton saw him surpass Teddy Sheringham as Tottenham's all-time top-flight scorer...

Captain and first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is doubtful for Tottenham due to illness, while defenders Danny Rose (knee) and Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) are closing in on their respective returns.

Midfielder Harry Winks suffered a setback in his recovery from an ankle problem and is slated to miss both today's game and the FA Cup fourth-round trip to League Two side Newport County.

It is now being claimed that Alderweireld could be back earlier than expected for that David versus Goliath clash in South Wales, while Rose is expecting to be fit to face Manchester United on 31 January.

Southampton remain without striker Charlie Austin, who may not return from a hamstring injury until March.

Centre-back Maya Yoshida (also hamstring) is expected to undergo a late fitness test after missing Watford with an issue picked up in the FA Cup win at Fulham.

If someone had asked you this morning who had become the latest Premier League managerial casualty - you could easily have been forgiven for automatically answering Mauricio Pellegrino rather than Watford's Marco Silva.

The Argentine has mustered only five wins in 25 matches during his hugely disappointing six-month Southampton tenure to date and a first run of 10 consecutive league matches without a win since 2005 - one which has seen the Saints slip into the relegation zone following Stoke's win over Huddersfield on Saturday - has frustrated supporters calling for his head.

Admittedly they did not look like a side destined for the drop after a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road last weekend that saw Abdoulaye Doucoure bundle home a controversial 90th-minute equaliser with his hand, but results have been dire and it remains to be seen how long this current malaise can continue.

By contrast, fellow Mauricio and compatriot Pochettino has his team firing on all cylinders.

Free-scoring Tottenham, who thrashed Everton at Wembley last time out, have won eight of 10 matches to move back within three points of the top four and another victory here could see them leapfrog Liverpool before Jurgen Klopp's side travel to rock-bottom Swansea tomorrow night.

Pochettino, who began his successful 18-month reign as Southampton boss five years ago this week, has not tasted defeat on his three subsequent league returns to St Mary's as a visiting manager and will be hopeful of collecting a third away win in a row on familiar territory this afternoon.

Indeed, Southampton have won just one of the last 11 top-flight meetings between these two sides and were torn apart 5-2 on Boxing Day in a one-sided affair most notable for Harry Kane netting yet another hat-trick to break Alan Shearer's record for the most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year (39).

Stay tuned for all the latest team news and live updates after kick-off at 16.00 GMT.