Everton vs Southampton
Date: 05/05/2018
Kick Off: 17:00
Venue: Goodison Park
Referee: Jonathan Moss
As the Premier League season draws to a close, and the business completed by Manchester City, the real interest now shines on the bottom half of the table. With no team being automatically relegated, it really is anyone’s guess on who will emerge victorious in the race to avoid the drop.
Southampton are facing Everton in their 500th Premier League home game, and no doubt The Toffees will be pushing to win to secure a memorable landmark for the Premier League side.
Everton have enjoyed huge success against Southampton at home, as in their last 12 meetings they have won nine and drawn three, which poses a massive task for Mark Hughes and his men. But, with the wind in their sails after their home win to Bournemouth, the incentive of Premier League football next season may be enough to see The Saints put one over on the team from Merseyside.
Everton will be without their creative midfielder, Gylfi Sigurdsson, due to a knee injury, which is never nice to see from a neutral fans perspective, however a Saints fan may have other ideas.
Everton will also be without Mangala and their young striker Calvert-Lewin. James McCarthy will also miss the tie due to the leg break he sustained earlier in the season.
Southampton’s only injured player is again, the club captain Steven Davis, who received a nasty Achilles injury which will last the remainder of the season.
Predicted Starting XI’s
Everton: (4-3-3) Pickford, Baines, Jagielka, Keane, Coleman, Schneiderlin, Davies, Rooney, Walcott, Tosun, Bolasie.
Southampton: McCarthy, Cedric, Hoedt, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Lemina, Romeu, Tadic, Long, Austin.
Prediction: Everton 2 Southampton 0
Written by Niall Henry.
