Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Southampton vs Everton
Kickoff Time: 2024-11-02 23:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Peter Powell
Southampton is a newly promoted team in the Premier League and has yet to secure a victory in the league, indicating that the team has not adapted to the pace of Premier League. Under the leadership of head coach Russell Martin, Southampton has developed a tactical system focused on high pressing and ball control. During matches, Martin emphasizes absolute control of the midfield, seeking scoring opportunities through continuous pressing and passing. However, this tactic often proves ineffective against teams with solid defenses and sharp counterattacks. Additionally, the team relies too heavily on individual player abilities, lacking creativity and tactical diversity, which can lead to deadlock during matches. Statistically, Southampton boasts a passing success rate of 88%, ranking second in the league; however, their average number of key passes per game is only 8.2, placing them 16th in the league. Their ability to convert chances is even lower at 17%, making them one of the worst in the league. Clearly, the team’s poor performance is attributed to the inefficiency of their forwards. So far this season, Southampton has only scored six league goals, making them the weakest attacking team in the Premier League. Due to their poor offensive performance, Southampton has become a strong candidate for relegation.
Everton has recently shown impressive form, achieving two wins and three draws in their last five league matches. After starting the season with four consecutive losses, Everton’s resurgence can be attributed to the Friedkin Group’s successful acquisition of a majority stake in the club in mid-September, which not only cleared all of the team’s debts but also promised significant investment in player signings during the winter transfer window. This move has greatly boosted the team’s morale, leading to more aggressive play from the players in subsequent matches. Under head coach Sean Dyche, Everton has developed a tactical approach that combines high pressing with quick counterattacks. In defense, they primarily employ a zonal marking strategy, focusing on overall defensive positioning and enhancing their counterattacking capabilities through the partnership of Idrissa Gueye and Orel Mangala in midfield. Offensively, they rely on the individual abilities of their forwards and the distribution from midfielders to create opportunities, frequently utilizing a combination of wide and central tactics, often leveraging the speed of Iliman Ndiaye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to break through opponents’ defenses. Additionally, Everton excels in physical confrontations. According to stats from Squawka, Gueye recorded 11 successful duels, tying for second place among Premier League players in round nine, while Calvert-Lewin had 10 successful duels, tying for fourth. With solid defense and sharp counterattacks, Everton is the team Southampton fears facing the most.
After experiencing a low point at the start of the season, Everton has successfully turned things around through collective effort and tactical adjustments by the coach, with morale on the rise. In contrast, Southampton remains win–less in the league, lacking tactical highlights and struggling with ineffective forwards; even playing at home, it is unlikely they will perform well. Given these contrasting situations, it is believed that Everton can secure points away from home.
Southampton’s Last 5 Games: WLLLL
24-10-30 Southampton 3-2 Stoke City
24-10-26 Manchester City 1-0 Southampton
24-10-19 Southampton 2-3 Leicester City
24-10-05 Arsenal 3-1 Southampton
24-10-01 AFC Bournemouth 3-1 Southampton
Everton’s Last 5 Games: DWDWD
24-10-27 Everton 1-1 Fulham
24-10-19 Ipswich Town 0-2 Everton
24-10-06 Everton 0-0 Newcastle United
24-09-28 Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace
24-09-21 Leicester City 1-1 Everton
Head To Head Record:
24-09-18 Everton 1-1 Southampton (PEN 5-6)
23-01-14 Everton 1-2 Southampton
22-10-01 Southampton 1-2 Everton
22-02-19 Southampton 2-0 Everton
21-08-14 Everton 3-1 Southampton
Prediction: Everton to win or Draw