Southampton's Israeli Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz Starts Season at Watford with Draw

The 2026/27 English Championship season kicked off over the weekend and continues on Sunday with Southampton visiting Watford. Israeli national team goalkeeper Daniel Peretz started in goal for Southampton, who begin the season with a four-point deduction due to last year's espionage scandal. Despite this setback, Southampton, coached by Tonda Akert, remains one of the top contenders for promotion to the Premier League. Watford, who finished 16th last season, have not beaten Southampton in their last six encounters. Peretz expressed his commitment to Southampton in an interview with 103fm, saying, "My heart was here, and after some days of reflection, I realized this is the right place to be. It was a very tough blow, but it felt right to stay, both ethically and professionally." The match was scoreless at halftime.