Premier League: Everton v Southampton match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Goodison Park

David Moyes watches his Everton team (GETTY IMAGES)

Everton will continue their quest for a European berth when they play host to Southampton on Saturday. The Merseyside club sit third in the table with 10 points from five matches, having beaten Manchester United as well as victories over Aston Villa and Swansea.

The Toffees were knocked out of the League Cup by Championship side Leeds United in midweek, but remain buoyed by an unusually good start to the Premier League season.

Southampton travel to Goodison Park full of confidence, after thrashing Aston Villa in their last Premier League outing. They followed this with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup and striker Jay Rodriguez should be recalled to Nigel Adkin's starting line-up after scoring both goals against Wednesday.

The Saint's 6-1 defeat of Villa last week was Southampton's first in their return to the top flight, ending a four-match losing streak and moving them above the likes of winless Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool.

KICK OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Southampton 2 (Crouch, Camara) Everton 2 (Beattie, Bent), Premier League, February 2005

Everton 1 (Osman) Southampton 0, Premier League, October 2004

Southampton 3 (Phillips, Beattie, Fernandes) Everton 3 (Rooney 2, Ferguson), Premier League, February 2004

STATS...

Everton have won five and lost none of their last seven matches against Southampton at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have seen more opposition players shown cards than any other team in the Premier League (11 yellows two reds).

Southampton have dropped a joint-league high six points from winning positions this season.

ODDS...

Everton to win: 1.36

Southampton to win: 7.50

Draw: 5.00

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.10pm