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Southampton vs. Everton: Opposition threat

By Ewan Kingsbury

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Leighton Baines (L) of Everton celebrates scoring his side's first goal to make it 1-1 with his team mates during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on November 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Leighton Baines (L) of Everton celebrates scoring his side's first goal to make it 1-1 with his team mates during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on November 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on October 22, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on October 22, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) /

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Icelandic international Sigurdsson joined Everton in a £45m deal from strugglers Swansea in the summer, but has yet to stamp his authority at Goodison Park. Nevertheless, Sigurdsson represents a real threat to a Saints defence who have conceded 14 goals this season.

Saints fans will remember Sigurdsson well, as he scored Tottenham’s third in a 3-2 comeback win at White Hart Lane in 2014. He also scored the 70th minute winner in a 2-1 Swansea victory over the Saints in January.

Sigurdsson’s set piece delivery will be a particular point of worry for a Southampton team who have struggled aerially this season, despite the presence of new signing Wesley Hoedt and world-class Virgil van Djik.

Much like Wayne Rooney, long drives (much like the last-minute one he scored in 2014) are one of Sigurdsson’s strong suits, and the Saints defence will be desperate to subdue the faltering midfielder before he unleashes one on the goal of Fraser Forster – who you wouldn’t currently back to stop it.