EPL: Southampton v Everton preview

Southampton v Everton preview

Southampton and Everton will both be looking to return to winning ways when they meet at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.

Goals have been Southampton's main problem so far this season, as they have netted just nine in their 12 Premier League games to date, drawing blanks in their previous two fixtures against Burnley and Liverpool.

That lack of firepower has contributed to the Saints recent struggles, as they have only won four of their last 20 league games, with their last victory against West Brom coming over a month ago.

However, the South Coast club have won three of their last four home matches against Everton and they could welcome club-record signing Mario Lemina back into the fold for Sunday’s match following an ankle injury, although fellow midfielder Oriol Romeu will definitely miss out through suspension.

Everton's plight is arguably greater than Southampton's, as they are a point below the Saints in the standings and have only won one of their last 11 games in all competitions.

The Toffees are also yet to appoint a permanent successor for the now departed Ronald Koeman, with interim boss David Unsworth winning just one of his six games in temporary charge, a run that includes Thursday night's 5-1 capitulation at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League.

Unsworth is likely to ring the changes following that defeat, although one man who will definitely not feature is forward Oumar Niasse, who begins a two game ban after being found guilty of diving to win a penalty against Crystal Palace last weekend.