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Everton vs Southampton Odds & Prediction – Premier League Round 26

Paul Attfield

by Paul Attfield in Soccer News

Updated Feb 28, 2021 · 2:09 PM PST

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, centre, celebrating after scoring a goal.
Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Everton at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday Feb. 6, 2021. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)
  • Everton are coming off a first win at Anfield in 22 years but have lost four of their last five home games in EPL
  • Down in 14th position, Southampton have gone eight league games without a win, losing seven of those
  • Read on for a full preview, odds, and the best bet for Monday’s game

Two of the nine teams to have led the league at some point this season meet on Monday afternoon at Goodison Park as Round 26 of the English Premier League wraps up. Though visions of parading the trophy have long since departed both dressing rooms, Everton are trying to make a push for the top four, while Southampton are desperately trying to stop the rot and prevent themselves from sliding further towards the relegation spots.

Despite losing four of their last five home games, Everton will be feeling confident following last weekend’s breakthrough at neighbours Liverpool – their first win at Anfield since 1999. But Southampton also experienced the elation of a win against the defending champions, back in January. They haven’t won a game in the eight games since.

Everton vs Southampton Odds

Matchup Spread Moneyline Total
Everton vs Southampton EVE +0.5 (-315) | SOU -0.5  (+250) EVE +110 | SOU +250
DRAW +250
Ov 1.5 (-335) | Un 1.5 (+250)

All odds taken Feb. 28 at DraftKings

Can Toffees Take Step Forward?

Last weekend’s big 2-0 victory at Anfield was just Everton’s third EPL win of 2021, and ended a three-game winless run for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

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But while the Italian manager is never likely to complain about winning away from home, no matter the opposition, the club’s form at Goodison will be of greater concern to him. Since beating Arsenal on Dec. 19, the team has fallen to West Ham, Newcastle, Fulham and Manchester City, with only a draw against Leicester City breaking up that run of misery.

Just as bad is their offensive prowess over that period. The team has just two goals in those five games – with nine goals against – but there are some reasons for Everton fans to feel more optimistic.

Calvert-Lewin On Comeback Trail

After missing two of those five games at Goodison with a hamstring injury, Everton’s leading scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin made  it back onto the pitch for the last 28 minutes of the Merseyside derby.

With 13 goals, he has been a big part of Everton’s resurgence this season, and is in line to return to the starting lineup on Monday night. And though he hasn’t provided the same kind of offensive firepower as his teammate, defensive midfielder Allan is also set to return on Monday, having been out for two months with a hamstring problem.

Southampton Slipping Away

Just seven points currently separates Southampton from Fulham in the relegation places, and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team can ill afford to drop many more points after picking up just one of the last 24 available to it.

Not surprisingly, the Saints have been poor defensively, unable to keep a clean sheet in any of those eight games. And their last three trips away from home have been particularly shocking, with the squad conceding at least three goals in each of those games, starting off with that historic 9-0 loss at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

Everton vs Southampton Key Stats

Everton
VS
Southampton
7th Premier League Position 14th
12-4-8 Record (W-D-L) 8-6-11
37 Goals For 31
33 Goals Against 43
28.9 xGoals 24.1
32.4 xGoals Against 34.6
-0.15 xGoal Difference Per 90 Minutes -0.34

Can Saints Recapture Form?

Having already beaten Everton 2-0 at home this season, Southampton knows it has the ability to beat the Toffees, but the team is suffering from a laundry list of injuries right now.

Talisman Oriol Romeu will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle, while forward Theo Walcott, defender Kyle Walker-Peters and midfielder Ibrahima Diallo all continue their recoveries from leg problems.

The Saints are currently on a two-game unbeaten run against Everton, and haven’t lost at Goodison since August 18, 2018.

Pick: Everton (+110) and Under 1.5 (+250)

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