Unavailable:
Everton – McCarthy, Browning, Hibbert, Jagielka
Southampton – Austin
Eight months ago, Everton visited a buoyant St
Mary’s drowned in sunlight with Southampton fans expectant ahead of their
Europa League tie with Midtjylland. What followed was the strongest performance
that Saints have faced this season as of yet. Roberto Martínez’s men would suck
their opponents in, and then spit them out again, but ever so elegantly. The
hosts sprayed the ball around in the early exchanges, yet whenever they made a
serious foray into the attacking third, the Toffees would snuff it out
instantly, and then gallop forward – streaming away to leave Saints trailing in
their wake. It was the complete away performance and Everton looked to be
primed for Champions League qualification.
Well, that hasn’t quite happened has it? And
were it not for Everton’s upcoming cup semi-final against United, then the
tension around Goodison Park may have reached an untenable level for Martínez
this summer. A side brimming with talent leaks goals on a regular basis, to the
point where the drab stalemate that they nabbed in midweek at Palace may well
have been regarded as an achievement. Such has been the meek effort this
season, that the seemingly mild-mannered Leighton Baines recently questioned
the chemistry in the team – the left-back who has spent a number of years in
the role of Martínez’s talisman. It tells a story. The former Wigan boss has
never had to face criticism during his time in England – earmarked as a young, forward
thinking intellectual who would drive the Merseyside club further than David
Moyes ever had. The Scot may not have always been exciting, but no one could
ever doubt the backbone of a team that featured Lee Carsley and Thomas
Gravesen. Martínez’s side is undoubtedly talented, but his side can topple
quicker than a pyramid of cards.
Yet he could not have handpicked a better
opponent to visit Goodison Park this Saturday in terms of a recent favourable
record. Saints’ performances have been decidedly better across Stanley Park at
Anfield, but have struggled under the weight of Everton’s attacking prowess on
the blue half of Merseyside. That prowess could be significantly weakened
though – Ross Barkley and Aaron Lennon are both major doubts for this match,
and their absence would dramatically reduce the Toffees’ threat as a driving
force. That should allow Saints to concentrate a little more on their own
attacking merit.
Sadio Mané, Steven Davis and Shane Long will
all have the creative license to break beyond Everton’s defensive midfield to
threaten, while Graziano Pellè has become a very effective focal point again.
This is largely due to the fact that Victor Wanyama and Jordy Clasie are
emitting confidence from the base of the engine room. But will it be enough to
break the Goodison hoodoo?
Key
Battles
Lukaku
v Van Dijk: Oh
how José Mourinho must be sitting uneasily at home witnessing what he could
have built at Chelsea with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku in his ranks. They
fled for pastures new – unable to flourish in West London – and their careers
have blossomed elsewhere. Even in this tricky season for Everton, Lukaku has
been better than ever, bulldozing through defences with pace, power and clever
positioning. He is a complete striker, and will provide a real test for Virgil
van Dijk. The centre-back continues to excel, and he will relish that physical
battle on Saturday. The challenge will be not to be too distracted by the
Belgian, allowing others to break into space.
Stones
v Mané: The
other thing that has dramatically changed since the start of this season has
been the value of John Stones. The centre-back gave a masterful performance at
St Mary’s in August, but has struggled in recent times, and has lost his place
in the side due to the emerging Ramiro Funes Mori – the left sided centre-half
adds balance alongside Phil Jagielka. But the elder statesman is currently
unavailable allowing Stones to prove his maturity. This Saturday, he could well
be faced with two difficulties a) Graziano Pellè revelling in a physical tussle
with him, and b) Sadio Mané running directly at him. The latter may prove to be
a somewhat more difficult task if the Senegalese is part of a forward three and
cutting in from the left. This will leave Stones and Seamus Coleman with a
decision of how to thwart the attacker as he attempts to slip between full-back
and centre-back.
Possible
Line-ups
Everton:
Robles
– Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines – Bešić, Barry (C) – Deulofeu, Mirallas, Koné
– Lukaku
Howard, Gibson, Oviedo, Niasse, Barkley, Pienaar,
Holgate
Southampton: Forster –
Martina, Fonte (C), Van Dijk, Bertrand – Wanyama, Clasie, S. Davis – Long, Mané
– Pellè
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