Everton vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-01-13 15:00.
With 50% of the Premier League (PL) campaign still to go, itâd be premature to call this a âmust-winâ contest for Everton, however, it appears exactly that for manager Frank Lampard. Thereâs huge pressure on the former midfielder after a run of eight competitive matches without a win (D2, L6) contributed to his team slipping into the bottom three at the conclusion of the last round.
Lampard couldnât have picked a better fixture in which to try and end this rotten run as Southampton not only start the gameweek bottom of the table, but Everton also have a comforting record of not tasting defeat against the Saints in any of the last 17 Goodison Park PL meetings (W12, D5). Adding to that record and securing a first double over the South Coast side since 2001/02 could be a turning point in the Toffeesâ season.
Southampton will also see this as a big chance to get a league win and potentially draw level on points with their hosts. The mood in the camp is sure to be much-improved after they followed up a 2-1 FA Cup win away to Crystal Palace with a stunning 2-0 home EFL Cup victory over English champions Manchester City on Wednesday. In the wake of that success, manager Nathan Jones took a swipe at his early doubters, stating: âRome wasn't built in a day – we're on the way."
Eager to avoid a seventh straight PL defeat for the first time in their history, itâs imperative the Saints build on Wednesdayâs victory with another positive result, especially for Jones who is on the cusp of a piece of unwanted history – including caretakers, he could become only the fifth ever manager to lose their first five PL games in charge of a club.
Players to watch: Demarai Gray has scored three of Evertonâs last five competitive goals, and has struck more PL goals than any other current Toffeesâ player since the start of last season (eight). Southamptonâs set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse might grab some of the limelight here however, as heâs scored two direct free-kicks in his last four competitive appearances.
Hot streak: Everton could lose four successive home league games for the first time since losing seven straight back in 1958.