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Southampton vs Everton: Three Takeaway Thoughts after Saints’ win

By Alastair Case

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ralph Hasenhuttl of Southampton after his sides 2-0 win during the Premier League match between Southampton and Everton at St Mary's Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ralph Hasenhuttl of Southampton after his sides 2-0 win during the Premier League match between Southampton and Everton at St Mary's Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /
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Jan Bednarek of Southampton (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Jan Bednarek of Southampton (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

Back to back home clean sheets show the steeliness of the Southampton defence

Alex McCarthy had less work to do against Everton than many of the viewers at home, which was testament to superb performances from Messrs. Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek and Walker-Peters. There was a real coherence about the way they moved as a unit and held their line, especially when compared to the first half last week against Chelsea.

The Saints defence were the primary beneficiaries of the suspension of their old tormentor Richarliason. Nonetheless, they still had the unenviable job of containing England’s latest golden boy, Dominic Calvert-Lewin as well as the mercurial talent of James Rodriguez. Indeed there were times during the coverage where one might have been mistaken into thinking that Everton were playing themselves in a club friendly, such was the media focus on the Everton personnel.

By the end of the game, it was a different story and with the good grace of a MP being asked to release their annual expenses report, the pundits conceded that Saints may just have outplayed their more illustrious opponents. Vestergaard was once more a towering presence, marshalling the troops effectively and demonstrating his considerable talent on the ball with some classy passing.

Bednarek, cruelly exposed last week by the pace of Werner, was back to his best and as with many of the Saints players, he showed some bite with a couple of big tackles. Saying that, particular praise should be reserved for the two Southampton full backs. Ryan Bertrand, a veteran of these affairs, used his experience to nullify any threat down the Everton right, whilst offering himself as a willing runner against the heavily isolated Godfrey.

Likewise, Kyle Walker-Peters was excellent again and as with his erstwhile compadre on the left, he is looking a steal amidst today’s extortionate prices. His determination to evade Digne also led to the red card incident just after the 70 minute mark.

Compared to the scattergun approach evident in last year’s capitulation to Leicester, where midfielders were deployed as wingbacks, this is now starting to have the look of a settled back line. With the conundrum of where to fit Salisu into the jigsaw still to come, there are finally some happy defensive dilemmas for Hasenhuttl to solve.