Everton will be keen to bounce back from a shock home defeat on Boxing Day, when they host Southampton at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Toffees have gotten off to a great start this season and have remained extremely consistent so far, which saw them move to fifth position in the league table, above the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Roberto Martinez's side were also the only team to have lost just one match (an away defeat at Manchester City) in the league so far this season, while all other clubs had lost at least thrice.
However, they suffered a 1-0 defeat to rockbottom Sunderland at Goodison Park on Thursday, after goalkeeper Tim Howard was sent off midway through the first half for bringing down Ki Sung-yueng in the box; a penalty which the South Korean converted, and turned out to be the eventual winner.
The Merseyside outfit will now be determined to post a home win tonight, especially since they can break into the top four and finish the year there, if there is a result in the Chelsea vs Liverpool game, scheduled for later tonight.
Southampton, on the other hand, have lost their momentum and form, after breaking into the top three early on in the season, and are currently ninth in the league table, nine points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
However, they managed to end a six-match no-win streak on Boxing Day, with a thumping 3-0 victory at Cardiff City. The Saints will be now hoping to put on a good run of results and mount a challenge for a European place.
Team News
Everton
- Out - Howard, Barry (both suspended), Deulofeu (hamstring), Gibson, Kone (both knee)
- Doubtful - Baines (toe), Mirallas (illness)
Southampton
- Out - Schneiderlin (suspended), Boruc (hand), Wanyama (shin), Do Prado (knee)
- Doubtful - Lovren (illness)
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for a 7pm IST start on Thursday night, with Star Sports HD1 live coverage in India. You can also catch all the action live online by clicking HERE. US viewers click HERE. To catch the action in Australia, click HERE. To live stream the match in the Middle East and North Africa, click HERE.
Expected lineups: Everton: Robles; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Osman; Mirallas, Barkley, Pienaar; Lukaku
Southampton: Gazzaniga; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; S Davis, Cork, Ward-Prowse; Lallana, Lambert, Rodriguez
Prediction: 2-2
