No Mirallas, no problem – Everton will score for fun at Southampton
Published:While Crystal Palace have largely embarked on their winning run by being miserly at the back, Liverpool and Everton have preferred the old-fashioned method of scoring countless times against their opposition.
This has been a pivotal factor in Everton winning seven of their last eight in the top flight and in the same number of these fixtures, the Toffees have netted at least twice.
It is an enticing 6/5 that Everton score over 1.5 goals at St Mary’s, even though they are without the injured Kevin Mirallas, who has netted in three of their last four fixtures.
Next to attempt to shackle their greedy frontline is a Southampton outfit that appear to have been misinformed that a standard Premier League season is shorter than 38 games, having switched off of late as their mid-table finish is secured.
Their only victory in five has come against another club starting their summer holidays in spring in Newcastle and Southampton looked especially disinterested when losing at home to relegation candidates Cardiff recently.
Without midfield tough tackler Morgan Schneiderlin here, the Saints may again be found to lack the fight required to triumph.
Even when playing to a higher standard earlier in the campaign, Mauricio Pochettino’s team have only secured maximum points has only seen his team secure maximum points twice against opposition that start gameweek 36 in the top half of the Premier League standings.
Therefore, it is hard to get overly excited about Southampton’s odds of 15/8 for a victory.
Not only are Everton scoring goals, they have every incentive to go all out for victory as they battle with Arsenal for fourth spot and a place in the qualifying rounds next season in the much-coveted Champions League.
They are not always the most reliable on the road, but 7/5 looks a fair price that they beat Southampton, with the draw available at 12/5.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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