Everton, Southampton to clash in mid-table battle (2020-07-09)

Everton will face Southampton in the English Premier League matchday 34 encounter at the Goodison Park on Thursday.

The game has little significance in terms of the league standings as both clubs are not in the race of relegation neither in the race of finishing in the top six.

The home team will come in the game slightly low-on-confidence after suffering a 1-0 defeat in their previous match against Tottenham Hotspur, courtesy an own goal from defender Michael Keane.

That result left Everton on the 11^th position of the league table with 44 points after 33 matches.

The home team’s recent form will not give manager Carlo Ancelotti a lot of hope going into the Thursday’s match as they have managed to win just four out of last 10 league matches.

On the other hand, Southampton are coming in the match full of confidence after registering an impressive 1-0 win in their previous match against league giants Manchester City, courtesy a goal from Che Adams.

The Saints’ are currently placed just one position behind Everton on the 12^th spot on the Premier League table with 43 points after 33 matches.

In the last 10 league matches, Southampton have managed to win five but also lost the other five which must be a concern for the team management.

Head to Head

In the 28 previous meetings between the teams, it is slight advantage to the Toffeemen who won on 12 occasions compared to Southampton’s eight whereas eight games finished in a stalemate. In the previous meeting earlier in the campaign, it was the Blues who came out on top with the score of 2-1, courtesy goals from Tom Davies and Richarlison. In the previous meeting at the same venue where the Thursday’s match will be played, it was the home team who came out on top with the score of 2-1, courtesy goals from Theo Walcott and Richarlison.

Players to watch out for:

Richarlison (Everton)

Richarlison is Everton’s second-most potent attacking threat in the ongoing campaign behind striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Brazil international has managed to score 11 league goals with three assists in 31 matches. However, since the start of the Premier League, Richarlison has only managed to score only once—in the match against Leicester. Therefore, manager Ancelotti will be hoping that his star man will return to scoring ways in the match on Thursday which can help the team in securing all three points.

Danny Ings (Southampton)

Danny Ings has been Southampton’s best player in the ongoing campaign, and that too by some margin. The 27-year-old became the focal point of the Saints’ revival under manager Ralph Hasenhüttl after the team suffered a humiliating 9-0 defeat against Leicester City earlier in the season. During the 2019-20 league campaign, Ings is Southampton’s leading scorer with 18 goals in 33 matches, 13 more than any other player in the squad. Therefore, the visitors’ team management will be once again banking on their star player’s goalscoring threat to produce a positive result on Thursday.

Prediction:

Looking at both team’s recent form, the prediction is that the game will end with a 1-1 scoreline.