Everton welcome Southampton to Goodison Park on Saturday.
Southampton manager Mark Hughes has said now is the perfect time to play Everton ahead of the two sides’ meeting on Saturday, and Blues fans have hit back on Twitter.
The Saints travel to Goodison Park level on points with their hosts, with both teams having drawn their opening game of the season.
Following the arrival of new manager Marco Silva, Everton spent nearly £90 million improving their squad over the summer, including bringing in Richarlison from Watford in a deal that could be worth up to £50 million.
The Toffees’ flurry of summer signings saw six new players arrive at the club and, according to ITV News, Hughes suggested it would be advantageous to play them before the new players had settled in.
“They’ve made a big investment in the team and in the manager, by all accounts,” said the Southampton boss.
“It may be that now is the best time to play them given the changes they have undertaken and maybe mid-season they will be better acquainted with the guys they brought in.”
Everton fans didn’t take kindly to the Welshman’s comments and took to Twitter to make their feelings known:
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