Kick-off: 1500, 14/01/2023
Stadium: Goodison Park
Southampton have enjoyed a couple of cracking cup wins and will now look to improve their Premier League prospects when visiting Everton.
However, the Toffees are also facing a relegation battle and know this is a match they can ill-afford to lose, so a tight tussle is expected.
We reckon 23/10 for a draw is the way to go with our first Everton vs Southampton prediction.
Everton Odds
Everton have only picked up one point from their last five top-flight fixtures and have gone eight games without a win in all competitions.
They did not look like a team in disarray when going down 3-1 in the FA Cup at Manchester United last time out, though.
Things could have been a lot different at Old Trafford if Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s strike at 2-1 hadn’t been ruled out by VAR.
Most Everton fans stayed to applaud their team in defeat that night and owner Farhad Moshiri has since insisted he retains faith in manager Frank Lampard.
He stated: “I am confident that we have skilled, experienced and focused professionals at all levels of the club.
“We are all agreed that our current league position must and will improve…I am confident we can move forward in a constructive and positive manner.”
Losing Alex Iwobi to injury against United was a blow, but winger Demarai Gray and rangy midfielder Amadou Onana were among several players to impress.
Keeping Calvert-Lewin fit and healthy is probably the key to Everton getting out of trouble.
He has only started six games this term and completed the full 90 minutes just once due to ongoing issues.
The 25-year-old remains a class act, though, and 4/1 for him to break the deadlock here appeals from the Everton vs Southampton odds.
Last Everton EPL line-up: Pickford, Tarkowski, Patterson, Mykolenko, Coady, Iwobi, Davies, Gueye, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Gray.
Iwobi is in contention after his ankle injury proved not to be as serious as first feared.
Southampton Odds
Southampton’s decision to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl with Nathan Jones came under scrutiny during a run of six straight league defeats.
Saints enjoyed a welcome boost when winning 2-1 at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, though, and then upset Manchester City to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals.
First-half goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo stunned City, who could not respond despite bringing on the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
“I’m really pleased with the performance,” said Jones. “I thought we were excellent as a team.
“We were aggressive, we were organised, we went after the game – it wasn’t a smash and grab.”
He added: “I’ve had people calling me out, I’ve even had non-league managers calling me out, saying I’m not good enough.
“I believe I’ve earned the right to be here. Whether people think I’m good enough or not doesn’t really affect me, because I’ve been questioned at every level I’ve been at and I like to respond.”
Saints have had some tough fixtures in the league of late, with a 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest the biggest disappointment.
They do not lack spirit, though, coming from behind to beat Chelsea and Leicester this term, as well as drawing with Leeds and Arsenal after trailing.
Let’s go with 12/5 for Saints to win the second half here to finish off our Everton vs Southampton betting tips.
Last Saints EPL line-up: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Perraud, Salisu, Kotchap, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Lavia, Adams, Mara.
Jones hopes to have new signing Charly Alcaraz available. Saints could welcome back keeper Alex McCarthy and forward Theo Walcott from injury, but defenders Armel Bella-Kotchap, Juan Larios and Tino Livramento and midfielder Stuart Armstrong remain sidelined.
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