Image via thenational.ae

Saturday afternoon’s Premier League action from Goodison Park sees Everton host Southampton.

The Toffees are without a win in their last five league games though they ended a run of three straight defeats with back-to-back draws against Watford and Crystal Palace.

Wednesday’s point at Selhurst Park moved them onto a total of forty, with their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season seemingly resting completely in the FA Cup with their semi-final against Manchester United set to take place at Wembley next weekend.

Top scorer Romelu Lukaku is a doubt for the game with a groin strain and could miss out along with Tom Cleveley and Phil Jagielka while there are also question marks over the fitness of Ross Barkley, Leighton Baines and Aaron Lennon while James McCarthy is banned.

Arouna Kone could be handed a start, and the Ivorian is priced at 8.0 (7/1) to get the first goal of the game with Kevin Mirallas a 9.5 (17/2) chance with Bet 365.

The home win is 2.6 (8/5) with a number of firms with the visitors as highly priced as the 2.9 (19/10) on offer from Bet 365. The draw is widely available at 3.4 (12/5).

Ronald Koeman’s side have won three of their last four league games to keep themselves well in the hunt for a European qualification place.

They currently sit in seventh place, three points behind fifth place Manchester United though they have played a game less than both the Red Devils and sixth place West Ham United.

Charlie Austin remains out with the knock he picked up in the warm up for last weekend’s win over Newcastle United though Steven Davis could return after recovering from an ankle problem.

Graziano Pelle is 7.0 (6/1) to open the scoring ahead of Jay Rodriguez who, having returned from injury a week ago is a 10.5 (19/2) chance with Sporting Bet.

Everton won the reverse fixture and last season’s corresponding fixture without conceding, and you can back that outcome here at a price of 4.6 (18/5) with Bet Victor.