Southampton vs Everton: Premier League – Preview and Predictions
By Joe Mcindoe
As Southampton welcome Everton to St Mary’s, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men will be looking to continue their charge toward safety against their hit and miss opponents.
The two sides go into Saturday’s clash separated by a seemingly sizable 11 points. While the Saints sit just one point off the relegation zone in 16th the Toffees sit in 10th, as they battle for a possible Europa league spot and seventh place.
Despite the gap in standings the current form book has the two outfits evenly matched, with the South coast side edging the visitors by a solitary point from the last five matches.
In spite of Everton’s table superiority and relative parity with the form guide, SFC will surely feel confident of picking up all three points after their resurgence in form under the Austrian gaffer. A surprise clean sheet at Stamford Bridge followed by a backs to the wall 2-1 victory over Leicester City has seen a new defensive determination and continued momentum. The Merseysiders on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency in recent weeks.
The Toffees have struggled to make progress up the league. While Marco Silva’s charges have dismantled Burnley, they have come unstuck against the likes of Brighton and Leicester.
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Why Southampton Will Win
After passing two tough Premier League tests in London and Leicestershire the side will feel confident of beating visitors, who have found it hard work to win in this neck of the woods. According to the Premier League website, Everton have only one once in the last nine visits here. The last win occurred in 2015.
Hasenhüttl has enacted a system which relies on the high press, high-energy, and the desire to get forward quickly. Games against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leicester, have seen a more disciplined and focused side who are willing and able to compete for 90 minutes. That’s not something that fans of the red and white army have been able to say over the past few years.
The club’s cause is also set to receive a boost as the key midfield presence of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is likely to return following a four-game suspension. Colleagues Charlie Austin and Yan Valery will also bolster the ranks as they too are released from the naughty step.
If Southampton are to win it will likely be through the work of Jan Bednarek at the back and Højbjerg in the midfield. The pace and skill of the inform Nathan Redmond will also have a big part to play.
Fresh off his first Premier League goal of the season and in nine months. (according to the Guardian) the pace of potential starter Shane Long could be used to harass and stretch the defence. If things go according to plan Saints will break quickly and look to trap the Merseysiders into silly passes or taking too much time on the ball.
On the defensive end if the likes of Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, and Jack Stephens, can match their work rate and awareness from the previous league game day, then Everton will find it a tricky afternoon.
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Why Everton Will Win
Everton may be a little bit hit and miss, but on their day they can prove to be a tough proposition. They have after all taken three points from Saints in the reverse fixture.
Fans are also likely to be wary of former Academy star Theo Walcott. If you believe the ratings of our sister site Prince Rupert’s Tower then Walcott has been off the boil of late. Nevertheless, his pace and skill has already undone his former employer twice this season.
The first encounter saw him get on the end of a cleverly worked free kick to help steal the points. A charging run and strong finish also saw him drag his side to penalties in the League Cup.
The home team’s defence may have improved recently, but it’s hardly infallible. The team has been involved in two intensive backline displays. That’s not including the disastrous claps to Derby on Wednesday night.
If Southampton come into the game tired from the previous workload then they are likely to be tepid.
In the 2-1 defeat To West Ham SFC lacked ideas and were undone by the quality of Felipe Anderson. The result is significant given that it came as the squad were acclimating to a new manager and his energy sapping system.
Ralph’s men may now be up to speed with the way things are supposed to work, but it’s been a difficult couple of match days and the side are not quite the finished article yet.
The latest defeat to the Rams saw the Saints go from two goals up to level within the space of under 10 minutes.
While it’s true that cup form doesn’t always translate to the league, this is far from the first time Southampton have blown a two-goal advantage. They have surrendered a brace against, Manchester United, Brighton, Derby County away, and then Derby at St Mary’s. That of course doesn’t even include all the times a one goal lead has been squandered.
Even if the relegation threatened outfit strikeout in front, Everton should keep the pressure on. If the Toffees get lucky even once, experience has shown that the delicate defence is liable to buckle and then break.
The hosts go into the contest hoping they will have the firepower of Danny Ings in some fashion. The club’s top scorer has been declared injury free following a hamstring problem (according to the club website).
The fixture may have come too soon for the number nine to lead the line.
Quoted within the article a hopeful manager says of Ings:
“He showed that he’s a guy who can score important goals for us. He is back after a small hamstring problem and it doesn’t seem that he cannot play 90 minutes on Saturday, so we have to think about it. We have a few options and we have to look in what direction it goes.”
It will be a relief to the Liverpool-based side if the forward‘s time on the pitch is limited. The Englishman has scored in both of the sides’ two previous bouts.
The absence of a consistent threat could only aid Everton in their efforts. Of course, the Liverpool loan signing could always do damage from off the bench, but the blues will surely be thinking that less time is better.
Predicted Lineups
Southampton-3-2-4-1
Goalkeeper-Alex McCarthy
Defenders/ Wing Backs– Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Matt Targett, Cédric Soares
Midfielders/Attacking Midfielders-Oriol Romeu, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Nathan Redmond, Stuart Armstrong
Striker –Shane Long
Everton-4-5-1
Goalkeeper- Jordan Pickford
Defenders- Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Kurt Zouma, Lucas Digne
Midfielders- Ademola Lookman, André Gomes, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Gylfi Sigurðsson, Bernard
Striker– Richarlison
(team sourced via, Prince Rupert’s Tower)