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Everton v Saints: Match Preview part 2

By Matt Townsend

Southampton's English striker Danny Ings reacts during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Everton at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England, on October 25, 2020. (Photo by Naomi Baker / 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 NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's English striker Danny Ings reacts during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Everton at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England, on October 25, 2020. (Photo by Naomi Baker / 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 NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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As Everton face such an important match tomorrow to see if they can overcome their recent Goodson Park hoodoo, let’s look in closer detail at their opponents tomorrow night; Southampton.

The Saints have had another up and down season. They have mixed some good results with a few terrible ones including another 9-0 thashing for the second season in a row. But recent matches against Everton have been much closer than that!

Southampton have a manager I rate. I think Ralph Hassenhutl is a shrewd coach who has done quite well to get the most out of his limited playing squad.

Yes they’ve had some horrible results but they often seem to raise their game against the better teams in the Premier League.

Recently though their form has been wobbly with four defeats in their last five Premier League matches. The one game they didn’t lose was a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

Generally Hassenhutl tries to make the Saints well organised and hard to beat with a premium on a combatative and hard-working approach. Despite that they have obviously conceded a lot of goals and only Leeds, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion have let in more.

Last summer he lost a key part of his side when midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojgberg left St Mary’s. The Toffees were very interested in him and Carlo Ancelotti was keen to bring him to Everton but of course he choose Tottenham instead.

Tomorrow Southampton will be without their main midfield enforcer as Oriol Romeu is out for the rest of the campaign. That’s a significant blow to the visitiors especially with the Blues having their midfield summer sigining Allan back after his spell out with a hamstring injury.

They also have several other players out including Everton loanee Theo Walcott and Takumi Minamino another attacking player on loan to them from Liverpool.

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Usually the Saints play in a 4-4-2 formation although that can vary and Hassenhutl likes to use two strikers in Che Adams and Danny Ings.

Ings of course has a very nasty habit of scoring against Everton and has done repeatedly in recent matches between the two teams.

The England striker is a superb poacher and a natural, instinctive finisher and not surprisingly despite injuries he is their leading scorer. Keeping Ings quiet will be a key to blunting Southampton’s attacking potential.

The other key performer for them is James Ward-Prowse. The England midfielder is having a good season and he is particularly deadly from set-pieces.

Given Southampton’s position ten points behind Everton and their leaky defence it’s hard not to see the Blues scoring tomorrow.

But equally despite these problems, given their recent record against the Toffees, Everton’s poor home form and with Ings up front, the Saints will be quietly confident they can get something from the game. And as well as needing the points they have an added incentive as after their win earlier this season they are going for a league double over the Blues.