· Tom
Premier League In Focus – Everton vs Southampton Preview
When? Saturday 5th May, 17:30 (UK)
Where? Goodison Park
What channel is it on? BT Sport 1
Are tickets still available?
Southampton - SOLD OUT
Where can I stream the match? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match online via the BT Sport website
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Last five meetings: Everton W2, Southampton W2, D1
Premier League meetings: Everton W16, Southampton W11, D10
All-time meetings: Everton W47, Southampton W29, D21
EVERTON
Predicted line-up: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Jagielka, Baines; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Walcott, Rooney, Vlasic; Tosun
Unavailable: Stekelenburg (Injured), McCarthy (Injured), Mangala (Injured), Holgate (Injured), Sigurdsson (Injured), Calvert-Lewin (Injured)
Doubtful:
SOUTHAMPTON
Predicted line-up: McCarthy; Bednarek, Hoedt, Yoshida; Cedric, Lemina, Romeu, Bertrand; Tadic, Redmond; Austin
Unavailable: Davis (Injured)
Doubtful:
PREDICTION
Although Everton start the weekend lying eighth in the Premier League, the rumblings of discontent around Goodison Park seem to be getting louder with each week that passes. The reason being that the fans have not taken to current boss Sam Allardyce.
The former one-time England boss' future is still up in the air with mixed reports as to whether he will still be on Merseyside at the start of next season and should Everton not finish the campaign well, then it is a question that could be answered for him.
This Saturday sees them play host to a Southampton side who have had their hopes of beating the drop boosted after a win over Bournemouth last weekend. There needs to be more of the same though if Mark Hughes’ men are going to complete the great escape.
With Everton having little to play for, there is every chance that the Saints could use this to their advantage, especially as they then face Swansea in a huge relegation six-pointer the following midweek.
If results go their way then Southampton could go into that game outside of the bottom three. Quite simply the Hampshire outfit need to do their bit first and worry about the others later, something that they will fancy doing on Saturday.
