Southampton v Everton – Match Preview, Stats & Team News

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To be played on Saturday 26th April 2014 at 12:45. Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton.

Odds: Southampton 2/1, Draw 5/2, Everton 6/4

Last season: 0-0

Preview & injury news

Southampton have been a difficult test for a lot of sides this season and they could be a bit of a stumbling block for Everton as they look to keep up their pursuit of Champions League football for next season. Everton currently sit a point behind Arsenal with three games remaining, and are in pretty good form with the home loss to Crystal Palace the only blot on their copybook in the last nine games – having won their other eight, including their 2-0 win over Manchester United at the weekend. Southampton’s league form has been patchy. In their last 10 games they have won four, drawn one and lost five, and currently sit in eighth place in the table.

On the injury front Southampton will be without midfielder Gaston Ramirez with an ankle problem, whilst top scorer Jay Rodriguez has a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury he picked up not so long ago against Manchester City. Kelvin Davis is still sidelined with a back injury whilst Maya Yoshida has a knee problem.

Everton’s injury list is fairly lengthy with manager Roberto Martinez saying Phil Jagielka won’t be rushed back from a hamstring injury. Steven Pienaar has a knee problem and will miss out whilst Darron Gibson recovers from a long term knee problem. Sylvain Distin is a doubt with a hamstring injury meaning that the Toffees could be without both of their first choice centre-halves. Lacina Traore also has a hamstring injury whilst Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo continue to recover from long term injuries.

Key stats

Here are the top scorers in the Premier League from the two teams this season:

Their average possession statistics:

And the amount of clean sheets they have kept this season:

5 players to watch

Morgan Schneiderlin – Everton’s midfield is difficult to combat meaning that Schneiderlin could be in for a difficult afternoon. He will try to stamp his authority in the middle of the park so the home side can get the upper hand in what is likely to be a closely fought game.

Seamus Coleman – Coleman has had a terrific season under Roberto Martinez and has been prolific going forward as well as defensively. The Irishman scored in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park and could be a threat again this weekend as he tries to provide the Toffees with service in the final third, as well as the keeping the Saints at bay.

Adam Lallana – Lallana always seems to be the player to watch when it comes to Southampton as his creativity, the way he reads the game and technique is a handful for any opponents. Everton’s defence has been pretty solid this season but since they have a couple of high profile absentees, Lallana could be a big player in the outcome of this game.

Romelu Lukaku – Lukaku has been used from the right in a couple of games in order to exploit the defensive weaknesses of the opposition, so it will be interesting to see where Martinez will use the Belgian in the game at St Mary’s when the Toffees are going forward.

Dejan Lovren – Lovren is going to be in for a big game if Lukaku is playing through the middle as he tries to combat the huge physical threat and pace that he has. If he gives him too much space, then the big Belgian could punish the hosts.

Earlier on in the season

Everton 2-1 Southampton, December 2013

It was a big win for Everton as they leapfrogged neighbours Liverpool into fourth place. It was a pretty poor first half but there was a well taken early goal from Seamus Coleman which gave the home side the lead within the opening ten minutes with a terrific strike into the top corner. It remained 1-0 until the final quarter of the game, when Gaston Ramirez came off the bench to fire the Saints back on level terms from range. They weren’t on level terms for long, however, as James McCarthy’s ball was lashed home by Romelu Lukaku three minutes later, as the home side managed to see out the game and collect all three points.