Everton welcome Southampton to Goodison for the Blues’ penultimate of game of a season both sides would like to forget.
The reverse fixture proved to be one of the lowest points of the Blues’ recent history, as the Saints demolished David Unsworth’s hapless Everton outfit 4-1 at St. Mary’s.
But that day was one of few that Southampton fans got to celebrate, with the south coast outfit now in the relegation zone, a point off safety.
Everton may or may not prove to be on the beach come Saturday night with a four-point gap separating them from ninth place Leicester.
But this affair will be everything for Mark Hughes’ men. Southampton have three games left and with Champions Manchester City on the final day of the season, the next two could prove vital as to whether or not they survive.
The Toffees come into the clash unbeaten in four, winning their last two. On the other hand, Southampton toppled Bournemouth 2-1 in their last outing. Before that they failed to win a league match since early February, a 3-2 win over West Brom.
The history books would have Everton as strong favourites at Goodison, Southampton haven’t won at the Grand Old Lady since November 1997, a run stretching 13 games.
One to watch
Southampton haven’t been blessed with goals this term with their joint top scorers sitting on seven apiece in all competitions, but one of them has come into form at the right time.
Dusan Tadic has flattered to deceive for most of the Premier League campaign but in recent weeks he has shone for the Saints.
Three of those seven strikes have come in his last three games, including two last weekend to down the Cherries.
Despite the fact Everton have kept three clean sheets in the last four, Tadic will still fancy adding to his tally against a team that has shipped 54 league goals this season.
Team news
There is no fresh injury news for Everton, with long term absentees Dominic Calvert Lewin, Mason Holgate, James McCarthy and Eliaquim Mangala all still out.
The visitors will be without captain Steven Davis and Sofiane Boufal is unlikely to be selected after a recent bust-up with his manager.
Man in the middle
Jon Moss will take the whistle. He has shown 111 yellow cards and three reds in the 32 matches he has refereed this season.
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