Everton 1-1 Southampton: Premier League – Three Key Saints Players

Southampton controlled the pitch and the opportunities, but settled with a 1-1 draw away to Everton at Goodison Park.

Ralph Hasenhuttl elected to start the same eleven players who toppled Manchester City.  It is hard to go against the Saints’ manager for this decision, perhaps questioning the team’s fitness following such a hard fought win.  The players’ put any fear of tired legs behind them from the get go and pressed Everton high while dominating possession and opportunities in the first half.

It really was a shame Southampton did not put the game away after 30 minutes.  James Ward-Prowse won a penalty and subsequently pinged it off the bar, Jordan Pickford kept out a Danny Ings header without understanding how, and Stuart Armstrong had a goal disallowed for an obvious offside infraction.  Meanwhile Everton could barely move the ball forward until Alex Iwobi forced an Alex McCarthy save from 8 yards out.

When Richarlison was not falling all over the pitch, he scored a very quality goal. The Everton talisman cushioned a Lucas Digne 40 yard diaganol while running with pace and pushed it over Alex McCarthy’s head with a deft touch.  For all the hard work Southampton did for 40 plus minutes, they unfortunately went into the half at 1-1.

An Everton change in shape negated some of Southampton’s freedom, but many would have expected a Saints’ victory after a somewhat muted second half.  Danny Ings just could not find his brace and Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong had multiple shots miss frame.  Armstrong may have had the best of opportunities with a half volley from inside the penalty area fly over the bar.

Regardless of rare Southampton draw, there were a bunch of key performers, but for this article here are just three that played a large role in the red and white’s success.