Everton travel to St. Mary’s Stadium this weekend as they come face-to-face with a depleted Southampton outfit, the Blues are looking for their first league win away from home since March.
This will be the Saints’ first match back at home since Leicester scored nine without reply two weeks ago.
In that time, they have played Manchester City at the Etihad twice in a four-day period, losing on both occasions.
Southampton have only amassed one solitary point at home all season, that coming in late August against Manchester United.
Their only two wins this season have come against Sheffield United and Brighton, two sides that have inflicted early season defeats upon the Toffees.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side start the weekend in the relegation zone, sitting one place and three points behind the Blues.
Everton’s superior goal difference means a Saints victory probably wouldn’t see them push up any places in the league, whereas an Everton win could see the Merseysiders go up to 10th depending on results elsewhere.
Since Southampton’s return to the Premier League in 2012, Everton have only won once at St. Mary’s, a 3-0 win in 2015. The other six visits have resulted in five home wins and a draw.
One to watch
Former Liverpool striker Danny Ings will prove to be the Saints’ main threat.
Ings has faced off against Everton eight times in his career, netting on four occasions.
No one has scored more for the South Coast outfit this season than the 27-year-old, the one-time England striker has six goals in all competitions this campaign.
Team news
The home side will be without Ryan Bertrand.
Marco Silva has a severe lack of central midfielders at his disposal for this one.
Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are out of action with long term injuries and Fabian Delph is a serious doubt. This leaves Everton with Tom Davies and Morgan Schneiderlin, unless Silva opts to change the formation.
Bernard will not play.
Man in the middle
Paul Tierney will referee the clash; he is taking charge of an Everton fixture just three weeks after bizarrely disallowing Yerry Mina’s header against West Ham. In 11 games this season he has shown 36 yellow cards.
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