Everton vs Southampton Prediction & Betting Tips - Premier League

Prediction published on 11/08/2021, 04:20  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 11/08/2021 at 04:25 in Premier League Predictions

Everton manager Rafa Benitez has an early opportunity to endear himself to the Toffees fans after his controversial appointment – he starts at home against Southampton and will hope for a winning start. Everton had a dip in form in the second half of the season in 2020/21 and Benitez, a former Liverpool manager has the job to restore a good run and confidence. A 4-0 loss to Manchester United in their final preseason game doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, and neither will the earlier win over Pumas and draw with Millonarios in the Florida Cup, where they scored just two goals. Benitez’s work is cut out, taking on a team that has struggled in front of goal despite having some of the best attacking talent in James Rodrigues and Dominic Calvert Lewin. They haven’t scored more than a goal in their last 11 matches, and that feat has only been achieved once in the last 18 matches. They’ve actually failed to score in four of their last seven games.

Southampton are also coming from a loss, falling 3-1 to Athletic Bilbao in their final preseason game. They won their earlier three matches in preseason and carry to this game a good run in attack, having scored in each of the four matches. They will need that, having seen their lead scorer Danny Ings leave but it is their defence that will need much fixing. The Saints go to this game with just two clean sheets in the last 14 matches. This, after conceding 68 goals last season, points to a big need to firm up at the back. That, and the sale of Ings doesn’t augur so well with Southampton’s ambitions though they are on the chase for an unproven forward in Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Armstrong. They also had a poor away run last season, losing 10 of their last 11 matches in the league.