Southampton vs Everton preview: Next four games vital, says Ralph Hasenhuttl

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl believes the next four games, starting with Saturday’s clash with mid-table Everton at St Mary’s, will go a long way in defining the club’s season.

The struggling Saints moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with an impressive 2-1 win at Leicester last weekend.

However, Southampton head into this fixture sitting just a point clear of the drop zone, with Hasenhuttl highlighting the next few weeks as being pivotal in their campaign.

„Every win is very important at the moment,“ said the Austrian. „We showed against Leicester how much we wanted to fight for the three points, because we knew exactly that it could help us to leave the relegation zone.

„The next weeks are very important and the good thing is, after this Everton game, we have more time to prepare for Crystal Palace and the other games, so that’s important for us.

„The next opponents after Saturday, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Cardiff, are teams that are in our zone. This game on Saturday and then the next ones maybe show us in what direction our development is going – is it going in the upper regions or do we stay there where we are?“

Despite their perilous position in the table, though, Everton head coach Marco Silva has warned his players not to underestimate their opponents.

„Hasenhuttl has had a strong impact,“ said the Portuguese. „It will be tough. When you start the season you always expect Southampton not in that position with the quality they have and what they did in the last six or seven years.

„It is the Premier League. It is really tough to get out of those positions, but they are fighting to achieve that. It is up to us to fight and be at our best level. We have to respect them, but do our best to win the match.“

Team news
Southampton can call on Danny Ings, who has returned to training ahead of the weekend’s game with Everton, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Charlie Austin and Yan Valery all return from suspension.

Michael Obafemi will miss the game through injury, while Ryan Bertrand and Mario Lemina are both doubts after sitting out Wednesday’s FA Cup defeat to Derby.

Meanwhile, defender Phil Jagielka is Everton’s only injury absentee for the trip to Southampton. However, as the club captain has featured just five times in the matchday squad this season it will not affect Silva’s plans.

Winger Ademola Lookman could start back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time since February 2017 after a good performance against Bournemouth last weekend, which would allow Richarlison to start up front again.

Opta stats
Southampton have won four of their last five home league games against Everton, losing only in August 2015 (0-3)
Having won the reverse fixture 2-1, Everton are looking to secure the league double over Southampton for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign
Everton have failed to score on four of their last six away league visits to face Southampton
Southampton have won three of their last six Premier League games (D1 L2), as many as they had in their previous 28 in the competition (W3 D10 L15)
Southampton are looking to avoid three consecutive home defeats within the same Premier League season for the first time since their first three such games at St Mary’s back in October 2001
Everton are looking to win consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October. However, they’ve not won a league game on the south coast since August 2015 (3-0 at Southampton), drawing three and losing five since
Everton’s Theo Walcott has scored five goals in his last three appearances in all competitions against his former side Southampton – as many as he netted in 23 games for Saints in the 2005-06 season

Merson’s prediction

I know Everton won the other day against Bournemouth but they didn’t impress me. They are still under pressure despite that much-needed win. To me it looks like the players just aren’t clicking at the moment.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has definitely given Southampton a bounce factor. He’s got a plan and is bringing different ideas to the table. They won’t go down.