It’s a battle of relegation contenders this weekend in the Premier League as Everton welcome Southampton to Goodison Park in a must-win game for both teams.
Venue: Goodison Park (Liverpool)
Key Statistics
Everton are winless in their last eight competitive games (D2, L6).
The hosts have lost their last three Premier League home games by a combined scoreline of 8-3.
They have scored just 25 goals this season. Only Wolves (11) and Nottingham Forest (13) have scored fewer goals.
Southampton have conceded 33 goals in the league this season. Only Bournemouth (39) and Nottingham Forest (34) have conceded more goals in the league.
The Saints have lost their last six league games.
Head to head
In 47 Premier League meetings between both teams, Everton have 24 wins while Southampton have 14 wins.
The hosts have not lost to the Saints in the last 17 Goodison Park PL meetings (W12, D5).
Latest performances in all competitions
Everton: L-L-D-L-W
Southampton: W-W-L-L-L
Everton
Everton will look to end a miserable run of form when they welcome Southampton to Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Toffees are currently on a run of eight games without a win in all competitions, with six coming in the Premier League.
While 50% of the Premier League games are still to play, it is safe to say that this contest is a ‘must-win’ contest for Everton and Frank Lampard, whose job at Goodison Park has come under intense scrutiny in the past couple of days.
The former Chelsea manager has driven Everton into the bottom three of the PL table. So he might be getting the boot soon unless things change.
However, given his side’s record in this fixture, Lampard will feel mildly confident about getting a result here. The former midfielder couldn’t have picked a better fixture to try and end this rotten run as Southampton not only started the game week bottom of the table, but Everton have not lost against the Saints in any of the last 17 Goodison Park PL meetings (W12, D5).
Adding to that record and securing a first double over the South Coast side since 2001/02 could be a turning point in the Toffees’ season.
Possible Everton starting line-up
Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Conor Coady, Vitali Mykolenko, Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye, Alex Iwobi, Anthony Gordon, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Demarai Gray.
Injured: Nathan Patterson, James Garner, Andros Townsend, Michael Keane
Doubtful: Alex Iwobi
Suspended: None
Southampton
Southampton sent shockwaves around England on Wednesday as they beat Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
First-half goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo gave the Saints the win against a City side that were considered favourites for the trophy.
The win was their second successive in their last two games and would have boosted the stock and confidence of new manager Nathan Jones.
The new manager took a swipe at his early doubters, stating: “Rome wasn’t built in a day – we’re on the way” after beating City. He will hope his boys can replicate that performance here at Goodison Park.
A win here will end a six-game losing run for the Saints, who can also potentially draw level on points with their hosts.
Possible Southampton starting line-up
Gavin Bazunu, Duje Caleta-Car, Lyanco Vojnovic, Mohammed Salisu, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jamie Ward-Prowse, Roméo Lavia, Romain Perraud, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Adam Armstrong, Che Adams.
Injured: Valentino Livramento, Armel Bella+Kotchap, Alex McCarthy
Doubtful: Juan Larios
Suspended: None
Odds
Prediction
Everton 0-1 Southampton
