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Everton: 3 burning questions before the match with Southampton

By Paul Conatzer

Everton's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti watches his players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on July 6, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti watches his players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on July 6, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Everton goes into the weekend top of The Premier League. However, a difficult away game against Southampton is ahead. Can Everton stay top after a visit to the South-east.

Here are three burning Everton questions which could play a role in Sunday’s match and keep their unbeaten string alive.

1. Can James Rodriguez play?

Early in the derby, Rodriguez was hammered by Virgil Van Dijk. Rodriguez was able to play out the game. However, earlier in the week, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said Rodriguez would miss Sunday’s game. On Thursday, he told the club’s official website

"Unfortunately, James had a problem during the game [against Liverpool]. He had a mistimed tackle with Virgil van Dijk at the beginning of the game and I think he will not be available for the game against Southampton.”"

Related Story. Everton given injury boost as Ancelotti makes U-turn. light

Then on Friday, Ancelotti said the Colombian magician may well be able to play during his press conference as reported on club’s website

"He’s not definitely out. Fortunately I think his recovery was really good and he trained today, just a partial training session."

Maybe Ancelotti is playing mind games, maybe he isn’t. But the presence of Rodriquez will be a great boost for Everton. He’s got three goals and three assists this season and that doesn’t show the passes, he makes to help set up the assists.

Everton gets more than ability, assists and goals from their Colombian international. He brings intangibles that Everton just simply didn’t have last season.

His teammates are playing better and faster, too. In his last 10 games without Rodriguez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin didn’t score. In five league games with Rodriguez in the same side, DCL has netted seven times, including his first EPL hat-trick

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