Everton v Southampton betting tips: Home comfort for Blues
Published:
Everton v Southampton betting tips and odds
Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez starts his reign as Everton manager as 20/23 favourites to beat Southampton on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
The Toffees are 7/2 in the Premier League top-six odds ahead of the forthcoming campaign and 5/1 to finish top of the pile without the traditional top six.
Matches between the clubs have been fairly close in recent years so let’s examine the markets and odds in our Everton v Southampton betting tips.
Match Odds
Southampton sold Danny Ings to Aston Villa for £25million and so far they have added Chelsea teenager Armando Broja on a season-long loan as his replacement.
Saints have also signed Theo Walcott on a permanent deal from the Merseysiders and replaced left-back Ryan Bertrand with French defender Romain Perraud from Brest, so supporters will hardly be brimming with confidence ahead of the new season.
Everton have not caused huge waves in the summer transfer market either, although wingers Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray moved to Goodison Park.
The Toffees have not lost this fixture in the last 16 meetings, 11 of which were victories and all but two of those wins came by under 3.5 goals which is priced at 17/10.
The manager reflects on #SaintsFC's closing pre-season encounter:
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 7, 2021
However, three of the previous five duels at Goodison Park have ended 1-1 so we go 5/2 on a draw, 10/3 on a share of the spoils and goals at both ends and 6/1 on that scoreline.
Southampton topped the table in November for the first time in their history but a poor second half of the season saw them finish in 15th so we make them 4/1 in the Premier League relegation odds.
Six of the last eight matches produced goals at both ends which can be backed at 4/6 but last season’s games ended 1-0 and 2-0 to the home teams so at least one team not to score is available at 11/10.
Of interest in the #GetAPrice specials at 11/10 is Everton to win or draw, Southampton under 0.5 goals in the first half and under 3.5 goals in the match.
That market would have paid out in this fixture in seven of the last eight Premier League meetings and deserves consideration as one of our Everton v Southampton betting tips.
Talking Tactics
Bringing Townsend and Gray on board suggests Benitez wants to get the ball out wide for his wingers to supply the crosses for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who missed the 4-0 pre-season defeat by Manchester United with a foot injury.
Richarlison helped Brazil reach the Copa America final and has been on fire at the Olympics but his success means he will need an extended break and is unlikely to be available for the start of the season.
Southampton made an encouraging start to pre-season as goals from Theo Walcott, Moussa Djenepo and a Che Adams double sealed a 4-0 win at Cardiff, but they lost 3-1 to Athletic Bibao in their final warm-up.
Goalscorer Odds
Shane Long and Michael Obafemi started up front against the Basques, but Che Adams is likely to be the main man this season and is 13/2 to break the deadlock or 5/2 to score.
Ibrahim Diallo scored Saints’ goal against Athletic and is 33/1 to bag the opener or 12/1 to find the net.
Everton wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a heavy defeat at Old Trafford and with Calvert-Lewin doubtful, Benitez may look to Alex Iwobi or James Rodriguez, who are 12/1 and 11/2 to get the game’s first goal.
Match Info
Where: Goodison Park
When: 15:00, Saturday 14th August
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
