Southampton continue their battle for Premier League survival against Everton at St Mary’s Stadium.
Victory could see Southampton climb to 18th if Ipswich lose by two goals or more to Leicester.
Everton can climb to 13th with a win if West Ham and Leicester both lose elsewhere.
Team News
Flynn Downes is a doubt for Southampton after he missed their midweek Carabao Cup win over Stoke, due to a knock.
Unnamed players could miss out due to a sickness bug affecting the Saints’ squad.
Will Smallbone (thigh), Gavin Bazunu and Ross Stewart (both Achilles) remain ruled out.
Everton could be without Dwight McNeil (knee) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (unspecified), although both players face late fitness tests.
James Garner (back), Tim Iroegbunam, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti (all foot) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Everton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday 2 November at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have won two of their last five league meetings against Everton (W2, L3).
- Everton have won two of their last seven league visits to Southampton (W2, L5).
- Southampton have won two of their last three home games against Everton by 2-0 results.
- Russell Martin’s Saints are yet to score a second-half league goal at home this season.
- Iliman Ndiaye has scored in each of Everton’s last two away matches (W1, D1).
Prediction
Despite their defensive woes this season which were evident in a near-collapse against Stoke from 2-0 up, Southampton now need to use their late winner as a platform to build on especially given their home form against Everton.
Sean Dyche’s Toffees though are unbeaten in six games (if discount their penalty shootout loss to the Saints in third round of Carabao Cup), whilst two clean sheets last month is a positive despite a scrappy 1-1 draw against Fulham last weekend.
Nevertheless this should be a good game because victory for the Saints would drag Everton back into the relegation battle, especially if Ipswich and Wolves win their games.
A draw though would be a fair result even if it doesn’t help the Saints.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Everton
Result: Southampton 1-0 Everton