Match Report

Last season's trip to St Mary's Stadium came in a week that marked the nadir of Everton's 2017-18 season. A 4-1 drubbing by an awful Saints side that came hot on the heels of a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Atalanta was followed four days later by the appointment of Sam Allardyce… desperate times calling, in Farhad Moshiri's view, for desperate measures.

The Blues were 16th at the time, just two points above the relegation zone and in continued free-fall under caretaker boss, David Unsworth, but while the situation isn't nearly as parlous this time following another demoralising south coast defeat, there is a familiarly depressed air among Evertonians.

It's a distant cry from the week leading up to the Merseyside derby last month when Blues fans were hopeful that the doggedness and spirit that Marco Silva's men had showed at the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea was an indication that they were finally ready and able to bury arguably the most painful hoodoo of Everton's modern history.

The manner of that defeat to Liverpool — not to mention, of course, who the opposition were — appears to have derailed what was, up until then, a promising debut season for Silva and knocked the stuffing out of a squad whose mental frailty and absence of leadership remains an ongoing concern. One could ask what it says about all concerned that one result eights weeks ago could have such lasting effects.

In terms of ability, this Groundhog Day of a situation isn't merely a question of personnel. Again, this was a team that prior to the Anfield debacle was heading for a top-six challenge with a favourable fixture schedule ahead of them once the trip to Manchester City was out the way. They have won just three times in 11 in all competitions since and only the win at Burnley was done so in any convincing fashion.

Psychologically, though, there are huge question marks over this team and they pose a challenge that Silva has thus far been unable to address. The confidence that was gained from beating Lincoln and Bournemouth was disappointingly ephemeral, vanishing as soon as Southampton put it to any kind of test in a match that the Everton of two months ago would have been a decent bet to win.

The Saints, concerned enough by relegation to sack Mark Hughes last month, were involved in an FA Cup replay on Wednesday that went to extra time and then penalties. If you didn't know better, you would have said on this evidence that it was Everton who were the ones haunted by the threat of the drop and had just been through a 120-minute cup tie only to be knocked out of the competition on their own turf to a lower-division side.

Ralph Hasenhà¼ttl's side were by far the more energetic, displaying a desire and willingness to be quicker to the ball and faster in their execution in general. Where Everton were laboured and seemingly unable to string more than a couple of passes together, their hosts routinely evaded the press with quick interchanges that took two blue shirts out of the game and opened up space in midfield.

And when they weren't able to do that, Everton's sloppy distribution did the job for them, particularly in the second half when poor giveaways in the middle of the park led to Southampton's two goals.

The Toffees' problems revealed themselves pretty quickly this afternoon. The debate over Richarlison's best position has occupied Blues in pubs, online discussion forums and social media for weeks now and it will have been fed further fuel by this display, easily his worst since donning an Everton jersey and one that lasted just 65 minutes before he was withdrawn after Southampton's second goal went in.

An out-and-out centre forward in the traditional English league mould he clearly isn't but as his goalscoring record at Everton suggests and his national team would seem to agree, he is very adept at operating in “false nine” role if the rest of the team is set up to maximise his strengths.

Everton had as much as 70% of the possession at times during this game but did precious little with it. Silva has set the team up to play out from the back and, presumably, through midfield but they proved utterly incapable of doing it; the net result being a succession of long balls punted forward by Jordan Pickford, none of which Richarlison was able to deal with against the three big centre halves that Hasenhà¼ttl deployed.

It would take almost a quarter of an hour for the isolated and out-matched Brazilian to touch the ball in any meaningful way and it's hard to remember a single contribution of positive note that he made all afternoon. The system and his team-mates utterly failed him but when he did get a chance to run from deep with the ball at his feet, he committed his all-too familiar sin of ignoring team-mates beside him and trying to go it alone before running into a cul-de-sac.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, of whom so much is expected, was anonymous for 45 minutes while Bernard and Ademola Lookman had the odd of individual moment but overall struggled from the general lack of cohesiveness that plagued Everton all afternoon and has done for weeks now.

By contrast, Southampton seemed to have adopted the perfect game plan: operate more like the away side, allow Everton to have the ball but swamp André Gomes, be first to the ball when it broke away from the visitors, skirt the high press and release the ball quickly through the centre to the likes of Nathan Redmond and Danny Ings.

Their first couple of chances actually arrived via a move down the left flank and then a set-piece. Matt Targett's cross found James Ward-Prowse in the centre who controlled and shot but saw effort deflect behind off Michael Keane. Eight minutes later, a corner from the Saints' left easily found Ings's head but he was denied brilliantly by Pickford's smart one-handed save.

And the England ‘keeper was called upon 12 minutes after that when a dreadful giveaway by Gomes was clipped over the top to Ings but Pickford was on hand to parry the shot away to safety once more.

Then, not for the first time on the day, Southampton were able to dissect the away defence with a pass between lead-footed Everton defenders for Redmond to chase but he could only graze the far post with his shot as Pickford closed down the angles.

In between, Everton's only move of any technical merit had produced a chance for Lookman when he combined neatly with Bernard and attempted a drive from the edge of the box but it was charged down by a defender.

Time and again, Everton struggled to thread their way out of defence to mount attacks on the deck and their inability to work their way through Southampton's midfield saw the hosts go as close as would come to breaking the deadlock before half-time when Kurt Zouma passed into traffic trying to find Bernard and Oriel Romeu intercepted before quickly releasing Ings.

The striker profited from a fortunate bounce of the ball off Idrissa Gueye but drifted past the Senegalese all too easily and was shaping to shoot when Gomes intervened, the ball coming back off the post via the Portuguese before being hacked away by Coleman.

As was the case last week, Silva's half-time team talk looked to have had the desired effect as Sigurdsson and Bernard combined before the latter fed Digne on the overlap and his cross was met by the Icelander whose strong header was beaten behind by Alex McCarthy in the Saints goal.

Any attempts to build on that were cut short, however, two minutes later. Once again possession was squandered by Gomes in the middle of the park, Gueye lost out trying to pick up Zouma's header off a lofted ball forward by a Southampton defender and Ward-Prowse held the midfielder off as he drove towards the “D” and rifled an impressive strike past Pickford.

That kind of incisiveness was in stark contrast to Everton, whose use of the ball lapsed back into being atrocious again with Bernard providing a case in point in the 55th minute when an opportunity to break forward opened up but he simply gave it away with a weak pass aimed in Richarlison's general direction.

Gomes's afternoon was mercifully brought to an end a minute later, the Portuguese making way for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a belated change in formation but Sigurdsson dropping back into a deeper role simply changed the face at the origin of a poor pass in the centre that squandered possession and led to a goal.

Romeu intercepted his under-hit return pass looking for Lookman and three passes later, Redmond was steaming in behind the Blues' defence once more with just Pickford to beat. This time, Digne had come across to cover and nip the ball off his toe but the Frenchman's touch diverted the ball beyond Pickford and inside the post of his own goal.

2-0 almost became 3-0 when the zonal marking system failed again and Jack Stephens was allowed to power a free header just wide from an 82-minute corner.

Everton tried to rally and Coleman picked out Calvert-Lewin in the centre with a deep cross but the striker couldn't keep his header down while yet another turnover in possession by Sigurdsson in midfield set up a chance for the Saints to pad their lead. Ward-Prowse crossed and substitute Shane Long met it but Pickford made another good save to deny him.

The game had moved into stoppage time before the Blues' fleeting attempts to affect the scoreline finally proved successful and it came as the ball pinged around the edge of the Southampton penalty area before falling to Sigurdsson who expertly passed it into the empty side of McCarthy's net to make it 2-1.

It was far too little far too late for Silva 's outfit, however, and a last-gasp corner with Pickford joining the fray in the box came to nothing before referee Graham Scott answered the desperate pleas from Hasenhà¼ttl's bench to blow for full-time.

So another winnable game has gone begging amidst an all-round performance that throws up questions at almost every corner. The spotlight will be shone squarely at the manager but plenty of responsibility for this shambles rests on the heads of the players, many of whom were on the pitch when Allardyce was smirking a year ago about how he couldn't help it if the players couldn't find each other with basic passes.

The paucity of Everton's possession play beggared belief at times today, almost as much as Gomes's precipitous decline from Messiah to quandary in the space of a few short weeks, Gueye's up-and-down form and the vexing questions of who should lead Silva's line and where the creativity is going to reliably come from.

How the manager and team respond now is going to be key. The team remain just three points off seventh place but that small gap feels like a chasm given the inconsistencies in the Blues' form and the crippling lack of confidence that seems to have gripped them once more.

Ultimately, apart from the not insignificant issue of a few million quid in prize money, finishing seventh or 11th where Everton are now will be of little consequence in the context of this Premier League season already being a write-off. Everything now rests on the FA Cup but with the trip to Millwall just a week away, who among us will be going into that one with much more than trepidation and blind hope?

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton had no real answers to the greater energy, stronger desire, and a clearer focus on scoring goals by Southampton under their new manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, raising ever more question-marks about Marco Silva's tactics and coaching.

Everton were unchanged with Calvert-Lewin on the bench and Richarlison continuing in his ineffective role as 'centre-forward'.

Everton last won at St Mary's in August 2015 thanks to two goals from Romelu Lukaku and one from Ross Barkley. But only three of the team that took to the field that day remain at Goodison Park: Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka and James McCarthy, with only Coleman playing today.

The Saints got things going, and pushed up into the Everton half without really threatening from a series of throw-ins ending in an Everton goal-kick. Everton's first foray won an early corner, Digne swinging it beyond everyone, Gana winning another from the other side, taken short by Lookman, then overhitting the cross.

Ward-Crowse almost got a shot off, winning a corner for the Saints that was defended away. Gueye made an important interception but Gomes could not control the ball and Everton tried to play it out painfully slowly from the back.

Everton were really struggling with the high pressing play from their hosts, denying them space on the flanks, the Blues' passing nowhere near good enough until Sigurdsson intercepted and Lookman had a chance to play himself into the area.

Lookman crossed in well but there was no shape to take advantage and a spell of really scrappy play saw Southampton break fast, winning a corner, a greater header form Ings was saved late but very well by Pickford.

Everton had to defend against Redmond, Zouma denying Ings at the far post. Saints were now pressing Everton into the middle third, and forcing long balls lofted to Richarlison which were not working. But Richarlison got in a central run and Bernard's cross that was perfect for Sigurdsson in space but he failed to shoot effectively.

A far far better move saw great passing ending with Lookman's fine shot blocked away for a corner as Everton finally showed signs of playing football, Richarlison at least staying on his feet, just, when losing the ball too easily in a fair challenge.

Everton worked the ball well enough until Sigurdsson lost it in what was a pretty even contest. Gomes passed straight to a Saints player and the ball came quickly to Ings whose fantastic shot Pickford was well positioned to palm away. It was a good spell for the home side, winning a corner. Richarlison broke on a great run only to touch the ball generously to a defender with Everton players in support, a really poor piece of play from the Brazilian.

Sigurdsson and Redmond had a long conversation with referee Scott as Target needed treatment. Redmond got free and sliced his shot off the side of the far post and behind, a real let-off, as Targett was replaced by Cedric after illegally trying to stop Lookman, who made nothing of it.

More good spells of passing by Everton in the forward third came nowhere near the Southampton area, whereas the hosts were able to deliver killer balls into the heart of the Everton area, where Zouma stood strong to deny the shot.

A dreadful giveaway allowed Ings to advance, Gomes clipping it off his feet and onto the face of Pickford's post. Everton very lucky not to go behind, after showing very little quality at times.

Bernard won a turnover but his high ball to Richarlison in the Soton area was too difficult to control. At the other end, Pickford saved off a shot from Valery. A couple of neat flicks from Bernard and Sigurdsson got Richarlison running down the left wing but there was no-one in the middle. A Digne cross went straight to untroubled keeper McCarthy.

Bernard got clattered and needed treatment. Gomes got an elbow in his face, and the half ended pretty lamely. Much better quality needed in the second...

Everton put the ball out from the kick-off. Everton did get forward and Lookman got bundled over in the area, but no real shouts.

Digne overlapped and crossed superbly, Sigurdsson's header to the near post forced a good save from McCarthy. A couple of corners followed but nothing came of them.

however, from nothing, Ward-Crowse took the ball off Gueye's toe, ran forward and fired a great shot that beat Pickford all hands down despite a desperate dive. What now, Mr Silva???

With their tails up, Saints pressed but Everton got forward with Bernard running free in space only for the lamest square-ball giveaway. Southampton won a corner that was cleared with Bernard again running forward and yet again just passing the ball to a defender rather than a Blue shirt. 'Pathetic' is not enough condemnation for such atrocious quality.

Sigurdsson delivered a cross in while Calvert-Lewin received extensive instruction from Marco Silva before replacing the hapless Gomes. But the shapeless formless painfully ineffective 'playing from the back' continued to break down soon after they crossed the half-way line, Sigurdsson the next one guilty of a direct turnover.

The ball switched to the Saints and immediately Redmond was in on goal, Digne helping the ball beat Pickford inside the post. 2-0. Utterly pathetic from Everton, with Tosun on for the awful Richarlison.

Handbags from Redmond and Gueye, Scott taking his time. Gueye telling Redmond he stamped on his foot. In fact, all Redmond did was to kick the ball away from under Gueye who was down on all fours. Not the sort of misplaced aggression we need to see from Gana Gueye. Yellow cards for each.

Lookman started a better spell that finally saw Everton apply some pressure but again Southampton broke fast with a long ball over the top to Redmond who completely messed up a great chance to make it 3 for the home side.

Calvert-Lewin was having as much success as Richarlison against Bednarek and Valery... ie, none at all. Walcott, the final throw of the dice, on for Bernard.

Lookman picked up the ball but ran straight into a defender. Redmond was seemingly always two yards behind the Everton defenders yet never offside. Everton continued to struggle, showing no sign that could threaten McCarthy's goal.

A half-hearted Everton attack switched the instant Lookman lost the ball again and the Saints scampered forward, winning a corner, powered just wide off the head of Stephens.

A simple pass to Walcott produced a ridiculous dummy step-over that went straight to the shadowing defender, the naivety simply shocking for Everton. Coleman showed how it should be done but it seemed to come high off the top of Calvert-Lewin's head under pressure from the keeper.

At the other end, Zouma went down, falling heavily on his lower back, as Long got in and fired at Pickford who saved this one well, the resulting corner needing some defending, Digne surprisingly getting a free-kick to relieve some late pressure.

In a bit of a scramble, Sigurdsson passed the ball into the net from the edge of the Southampton area. A brilliant opportunistic strike... too little, too late.

In the dying seconds, a better bit of play from Walcott, a cross from Digne was inches too high for Coleman at the far post. There was more action with Long getting a head injury but the game was effectively over despite 4 added minutes becoming 8 as the home side became desperate, Pickford up for a late corner that did not reach him as the whistle finally went on a really poor display from Everton.

Scorers: Ward-Prowse (50'), Digne (og: 64'); Sigurdsson (83')

Southampton: McCarthy, Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard, Valery, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Targett (33' Cedric), Redmond [Y:66'], Ings.
Subs: Long, Armstrong, Gallagher, Gunn, Slattery, Ramsey.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Gomes (57' Calvert-Lewin), Gueye [Y:66'], Lookman, Sigurdsson, Bernard (74' Walcott) Richarlison (65' Tosun).
Subs not Used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Mina, Davies.

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 29,989

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton look to build on two successive wins as they travel to the south coast this weekend to face Southampton under their new manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The Saints took the almost inevitable decision to sack Mark Hughes last month with the club lying in 18th place and in serious danger of suffering relegation back to the Championship for the first time in eight years.

Since then, the Austrian has overseen a mixed run of results — his charges beat Arsenal in a thriller in his first home game and then won at Huddersfield but a loss at St. Mary's Stadium to West Ham was the start of a run of four winless games in all competitions before they beat Leicester away last Saturday.

They come into this clash with Everton on the back of just three days' break following their defeat on penalties to Derby County on Wednesday and that, combined with injury doubts over Shane Long, Danny Ings, Mario Lemina and Ryan Bertrand and the confirmed absence of Michael Obafemi (hamstring injury) and the suspended Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg, will be a boost to the Blues' chances.

For Everton, this trip will bring back haunting memories of what was the nadir of a dreadful 2017-18 season. In tandem with their humiliation against Atalanta, the 4-1 drubbing that David Unsworth's side suffered was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back for Farhad Moshiri and it paved the way for the appointment of Sam Allardyce a few days later.

Having presided over just two away wins so far this season and in need of another good result to help distance the team from a poor sequence of results following the Anfield derby, Marco Silva will be looking for an altogether different result this time around.

He will be aided by an almost clean bill of health in his squad, with only Phil Jagielka (an unlikely starter anyway) ruled out with an injury he picked up in training this week.

Whether he opts for an unchanged line-up remains to be seen but he could be tempted to given the performances from Bernard and Ademola Lookman in last Sunday's win over Bournemouth. Lookman, who could face his former manager from his loan spell at RB Leipzig if he plays, was named the official man of the match for what was an impressive display on only his second Premier League start of the season and he weighed in with an assist for the second goal.

That Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored that goal with a beautifully controlled shot just minutes after stepping off the substitutes' bench is, perhaps, the only pause Silva might have for thought over his starting XI. Richarlison did not have his best game leading the line against the Cherries but the form from the two men on the flanks combined with Calvert-Lewin's inconsistency as a starter could sway his thinking to keep things unchanged.

At the back, Yerry Mina is, no doubt, champing at the bit to play but there is a growing consensus that Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma are the Blues' most reliable pairing and that could see the Colombian among the subs again for this one.

Given Southampton's propensity to concede goals (they've let in seven in their last three home games in all competitions) and the fact that they are still struggling to find their form under their new boss means that Everton should fancy themselves for this one.

In contrast to the defeat at Brighton, the win at Burnley showed what Silva's Toffees are capable of when they are firing on all cylinders and up for it and it is getting that spirit and confidence into the players before kick-off that could make all the difference.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 19 January, 2019
Referee: Graham Scott
Last Time: Southampton 4 - 1 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Gueye, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Lookman, Richarlison

Lyndon Lloyd

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