Everton FC vs Southampton FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Everton FC vs Southampton FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Games like this are often as exciting as those played near the top of the table. Relegation clashes are crackers because of what it means to the two teams fighting it out near the bottom.

Everton have been lounging near the foot of the table for some time now. Their owner, Farhad Moshiri, this week penned an open letter to the fans asking for patience and to give the manager time to do his job.

This is unlikely to go down well with fans who have been unhappy with how he has run the club during his ownership. Frank Lampard is skating on very thin ice as manager, too. Results must start improving.

Southampton are even further into the depths than Everton, sitting at the very foot of the table with just 12 points from their 18 games.

Nathan Jones lost his first four league games in charge of the Saints, but has had success in his two cup games recently, seeing off Crystal Palace and, amazingly, Manchester City this week.

They have a long way to go in the league, but Jones will hope that they can continue their cup form here.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Everton FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Beat Southampton 2-1 earlier in the season

     Must use the support of their home fans

Reasons to be fearful:

     Conceded seven goals in their last two games

     Could sink closer to the bottom with defeat

It’s always a bad sign when a club’s owner feels the need to come out and speak to the fans, especially when they give public support to the manager at the same time.

The situation rarely improves from that point onwards and Frank Lampard knows that he is on borrowed time if he is to turn things around at a desperately underperforming club. 

With nearly half a billion spent on transfers under Moshiri’s ownership, it’s no wonder that fans are calling for significant changes.

After their impressive draw against Manchester City, they’ve then gone and shipped seven goals over the next two games and lost to Brighton and Manchester United.

Lose here and things continue to get worse for the club. It’s likely that Lampard will face the sack if they do.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to start as he makes his way back to full fitness. Alex Iwobi is out after picking up a nasty injury in Everton’s FA Cup defeat to United.

Star Man – Demarai Gray

Remarkably, Gray has more goals since the start of last season than any other Everton player, largely down to Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems. He has eight goals during that period and is the Toffees’ in-form player.

Southampton FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Cup wins over Crystal Palace and Manchester City could spark league improvement

     Jones is quietly turning things around at Saints

Reasons to be fearful

     Winless in their last 17 meetings with Everton

     Lost their last six consecutive league games

Southampton pulled off the most unlikely of victories this week, brushing past the mighty Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

The Saints restricted City by not letting them have a shot on target, a rarity for a Pep Guardiola side in any competition. That result followed another positive performance, a 2-1 away win in the FA Cup against Palace.

Those are the sort of performances required between now and the end of the season for the Saints. Nathan Jones has been brought in to turn things around and appears to be quietly doing just that.

Fortunately, the Saints are still within touching distance of safety. Only three points are required to reach 17th, although plenty of teams are in a similar position.

Romeo Lavia was substituted after 60 minutes against City but should be fit to start. Moussa Djenepo was taken off injured in that game and may be a doubt here.

Star Man – James Ward-Prowse

The dependable Ward-Prowse keeps this team ticking even when they aren’t at their best. His free kick helped the Saints to a win over Palace and will be key to unlocking Everton here.