Chris Sutton and Paul Merson are in agreement with their predictions for Everton’s clash against Southampton.
The Blues take on the Saints in their Premier League fixture on Saturday. Frank Lampard’s side go into the fixture on the back of a defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup last week.
For Southampton, they were in Carabao Cup action in midweek as they beat Manchester City. In the top flight, though, it’s a different story.
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Everton are currently in 18th place in the league table and are only in the relegation zone due to an inferior goal difference to West Ham. Southampton are bottom of the table, three points behind the Blues, and have lost their previous five league matches.
Merson has backed Everton to beat Southampton on Saturday, and has handed out a 2-0 scoreline prediction.
“This is a huge game. If Southampton lose this match, I'm not sure the manager will see this out,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
“If you look at the games he's lost, they're not against the big boys. He'll have lost seven games on the trot in the Premier League if he loses this match.
“There's as much pressure on Frank Lampard this weekend because Everton are playing at home. We have Graham Potter under pressure as well - he's had to play Man City twice without his full squad, and now has a local derby against a good Fulham side. He'll be crying out for a match against Southampton at home, and Lampard's got that.
“Everton couldn't do anything with great managers like Ancelotti - they keep changing their manager! This is arguably Lampard's biggest game in charge of Everton, and I'd be shocked if they didn't win.”
Sutton was in agreement with Merson over his prediction for the match. The former Blackburn striker believes that Everton will win 1-0 at Goodison Park.
“The last week has shown the importance of the cup competitions in changing the mood at a club - just ask Southampton boss Nathan Jones,” Sutton told the BBC.
“Jones had lost his first four Premier League games with Saints, but beating two top-flight teams, Crystal Palace and Manchester City, in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup will really get the fans on his side.
“Saints rose to the occasion and played really well against City, but now can they maintain that against a team from the other end of the table?
“Everton also got an impressive result against City recently, a 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium on New Year's Eve, but they lost heavily to Brighton at home in their next game after falling apart in the second half.
“I keep saying they will win Goodison without them getting the required results like they did last season, and sooner or later I am going to give up on them.
“For now, though, I am going to keep backing them - but this is the last time I will do it, if they lose.”
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