Venue: Goodison Park
Date: 16/04/2016
Kick-off: 15:00 (BST)
Match
Everton’s mediocre season continued after the Toffees managed only a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the midweek Premier League encounter and it looks like Roberto Martinez’s men are set to limp towards the end of the season.
The current campaign can only be construed as a disappointment and many are calling for Martinez to be replaced when the season concludes.
Martinez has remained defiant all this while but he will surely know that his position at the club has come under scrutiny and it is now imperative for Everton to finish the campaign on a high despite having little to play for in the league.
Doing so will be easier said than done as Everton prepare to go up against high flying Southampton and the match is certain to be a huge test for the Toffees.
Everton Team News
Everton are not in the best of shapes heading into the encounter as the likes of Leighton Baines, Ross Barkley, Darron Gibson, Aaron Lennon, Romelu Lukaku and Leon Osman are all struggling with fitness problems ahead of the clash while Tom Cleverley, Phil Jagielka and James McCarthy will all be unavailable.
That being said, at least Barkley, Lukaku and Lennon are expected to shake off their respective knocks in time to feature on the day.
Besic to replace McCarthy in the lineup
The backline is likely to consist of the likes of Joel Robles, Bryan Oviedo, Ramiro Funes Mori, John Stones and Seamus Coleman while the duo of Gareth Barry and Muhamed Besic should lineup at the middle of the park.
In the attacking positions, Gerard Deulofeu, Ross Barkley and Aaron Lennon should retain their places in the starting lineup and Romelu Lukaku will in all likelihood spearhead the attack.
Probable Lineups
Everton (Probable XI): Robles; Oviedo, Funes Mori, Stones, Coleman; Besic, Barry, Deulofeu, Barkley, Lennon; Lukaku
Southampton (Probable XI): Forster; Bertrand, Fonte, Van Dijk, Cuco Martina; Wanyama, Clasie, Mane, Long, Davis; Pelle
Last Meeting
15/08/2015 Southampton 0 – 3 Everton
04/04/2015 Everton 1 – 0 Southampton
Prediction
Everton claimed a stunning 3-0 victory over Southampton when these two sides squared off against each other at the St. Mary’s Stadium earlier on in the season but claiming a repeat result this weekend will be tough.
Given the poor form of Everton, Southampton perhaps head into the clash as favourites and the match is likely to be a difficult assignment for the Toffees.
Despite the contrasting fortunes of the two outfits though, they probably head into the game very closely matched in most areas of the pitch and a tight score draw looks the likeliest result at the moment.
Everton 1 – 1 Southampton
