Everton are back in Premier League action this weekend as they travel to face Southampton.
The Blues go to St Mary’s in their first match after the international break. Everton went into the hiatus with their first league win of the season against West Ham, and will be determined to carry on that vein of form.
Frank Lampard ’s side are currently in 13th place in the league table with seven points from their opening seven fixtures. Saturday’s trip to Southampton is their first of six Premier League matches in October.
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Ahead of the match, renowned pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have made their predictions. Merson feels that Lampard has improved things at Goodison Park, but does not think that Everton will get all three points and has tipped a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
“With the stories I've heard coming out of Southampton, this is going to be a massive match for Ralph Hassenhuttl,” Merson told Sportskeeda .
“They play Everton at home this week, and he'll need his team to win this football match. I do worry for the manager if they don't get a good result in this game.
“Everton are working hard and have become difficult to beat. Frank Lampard is getting the best out of his players, and that's all you can ask for from a manager. Everton fans ask for only one thing - a hundred percent from their players every week. The team has lived up to that expectation and they've produced a couple of good results.
“Everton are far from the best team in the Premier League, but Frank Lampard is getting a tune out of them. Southampton have the home advantage in this fixture and could play out a draw this weekend.”
Sutton agrees with Merson and has also predicted a 1-1 draw for Everton against the Saints. The former Blackburn striker went on to claim that the Blues are the “draw specialists” in the Premier League.
“I don't really know what to make of Southampton,” Sutton told the BBC .
““They sometimes play with blood and thunder under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but other times they don't seem to attack very much at all.
“Everton have been better recently but, along with Newcastle they are the draw specialists in the Premier League this season, and I can see the points being shared again here.”
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