Everton vs Southampton Predictions

• Southampton have the Premier League’s 5^th best away record this season.
• Everton and Southampton drew 1-1 in two of their last three meetings at Goodison Park.
• Everton drew three of their last five Premier League home fixtures.
• The Saints were unbeaten in 70% of their last 10 away contests.

Everton struggle at Spurs

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti looked far from amused as he patrolled his technical area during the Toffees 1-0 reverse at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday evening – and the Italian coach had every reason to be annoyed.

With time running out to secure a top half Premier League finish, Everton players went through the motions in North London, limping to a lifeless defeat against an equally uninspiring Spurs outfit.

The defeat, which was the Blues 3^rd in four away assignments, leaves Everton down in 11^th spot ahead of their clash with an improving Southampton side on Thursday.

The Toffees, who scored one or fewer times in five of their last top flight tussles, looked worryingly abject in forward areas against Spurs, ending the game with a dismal 0.40 expected goals.

Southampton making strides

Southampton meanwhile, climbed to 13th after a confidence building 1-0 win over Manchester City in their last outing – a victory that was the Saints’ second on the spin after their fine 3-1 triumph at Watford.

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side needed a hefty dollop of good fortune and some superb goalkeeping from Alex McCarthy to keep the Citizens out at St. Mary’s in what was only their second win in seven attempts on their own patch.

Away from the south coast, Southampton’s potency remains high however, as evidenced by their excellent win at Vicarage Road. The Saints, in fact, hold the Premier League’s 5^th best away record overall this season having amassed 26 points from 16 fixtures – just one fewer than Chelsea, and two fewer than Man City.

Southampton to avoid defeat

Their superb record as the visiting team this season should make the Saints a difficult proposition for Everton on Thursday, and that in turn makes the Saints excellent value in the double chance market at the odds quoted.

Remarkably, Southampton took maximum points in six of their last eight Premier League away matches – a run that includes impressive victories at Chelsea and Leicester City.

With the momentum from that hugely productive run added to the impetus gathered from successive wins over Watford and Man City, Southampton should arrive on Merseyside will their confidence swelling – and the Saints should be able to harness that double dose of positivity to avoid defeat again there on Thursday.

Despite Everton’s shortcomings on the road, they remain a tough team to topple at Goodison Park however, something demonstrated by their eight-match unbeaten sequence there.

The Toffees shared the spoils in three of their last five assignments there however, and conceded exactly one goal in three of the most recent four of those. Combining the two, a 1-1 draw looks a solid correct score prediction for Thursday. Everton and Southampton finished level at 1-1 in two of their last three tussles at Goodison Park, and we’re forecasting a similar outcome here.

Key Battle: Michael Keane vs Danny Ings

Michael Keane was Tottenham’s unwitting match-winner on Monday when he put through his own net in North London, though the centre-back remains one of the Toffees’ most consistent and key performers this season.

On Thursday, Keane’s defensive acumen will face a stern test in the form of prolific Saints striker Danny Ings at Goodison Park – a player who scored in three of his last four appearances against Everton since 2018.

Ings, who notched three goals in four games since the restart, still has designs on winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot this season, and the 27-year-old will be hoping to add to his 18-goal haul for the campaign this week.

Everton vs Southampton team news

Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Cenk Tosun, Fabian Delph and Theo Walcott make up a quartet of confirmed absentees for Everton on Thursday.

Alex Iwobi and Mason Holgate, who both came off with injuries against Spurs on Monday, could also miss out, leaving Carlo Ancelotti’s options looking a little thin.

Everton predicted line-up: Pickford – Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne – Davies, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Gordon – Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

After their strong showing against Man City, Southampton could start with the same XI that ousted the Citizens 1-0 at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Sofian Boufal, Jannik Vestergaard and Yan Valery are all nursing knocks, though goal scoring hero Che Adams could keep his place up front having broken his duck in spectacular style against City.

Southampton predicted line-up: McCarthy – Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Stepehens, Bertrand – Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong, Redmond – Adams, Ings