Southampton were consigned to a 2-1 defeat against Everton on Saturday after the Toffees killed the game off in the first half.
Saints headed to Goodison Park looking for their first Premier League win at the ground since 1997 but turned in a rather tepid display as the Toffees eased to a victory.
Theo Walcott finished a well-executed set-piece move from Everton before Richarlison took advantage of the quite embarrassing defensive work from Southampton’s back-line to make it 2-0.
Danny Ings showed excellent instincts to poke Southampton back into the game but his efforts weren’t enough, as the team were once again let down by their shoddy defence.
Here are some of my post-match musings.
Jannik Vestergaard is already one of Southampton’s most important players. It feels rather strange to say that, given that he’s played just one competitive fixture for the club. However, as exemplified by the difference in aerial displays against Burnley and Everton in recent weeks, his importance cannot be understated. Southampton’s defensive performance from set-pieces especially was nothing short of embarrassing. The Toffees won everything in the air and were consistently more aggressive than Southampton; it was a mismatch and Vestergaard’s absence proved to be costly.
Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens are Championship-standard defenders. Both players do have age on their side and are capable on the ball, but they are simply well below-par defensively. The pair are clumsy, have little to no spatial awareness and are nowhere near strong enough. Although this duo is not Southampton’s first-choice centre-back pairing, they are the clear weak links in this team and absolutely must not start in the future.
Nathan Redmond is beginning to play with an added confidence and edge. The young winger was arguably one of the Saints’ best players last weekend and had a strong game against Everton. Although he struggled to breach the Toffees’ defensive structure, he used the ball well, was positive in possession and was energetic throughout.
Danny Ings is settling in at Southampton very quickly and very well. He made a big difference against Burnley last Saturday and was by far and away the team’s best player at Everton. He made intelligent runs, used his body well and his passing helped to initiate counter-attacks. Ings’ goal was typical of his strengths; being in the right place at the right time and being quick enough to capitalise on his instincts.
James Ward-Prowse’s influence remains to be seen. It was a peculiar decision from Hughes to start with Ward-Prowse on the right and, in truth, it was hard to see how his choice was justified. The midfielder was ponderous in possession and his decision-making wasn’t as incisive and assertive as was necessary. I’m struggling to see what he offers to this Southampton side, especially in an attacking sense.
4-4-2 doesn’t work. Shock. Mark Hughes appears to be completely unsure with regards to his first-choice formation. He operated with five defenders in pre-season until deciding against it 55 minutes into pre-season. The Saints boss used a 4-4-2 against Everton and the team were cut open. They were overrun in midfield and had no grip of the game. Oriol Romeu and Mario Lemina were positionally poor and Idrissa Gana Gueye ran the show. The desire to see two strikers up front for Saints is understandable, but it often appears to come at the expense of control in midfield.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has to return to the side. It’s quite unfathomable that Saints’ best outfield player last season has been neglected by Hughes so far, especially given Southampton’s poor midfield displays. Lemina continues to prove that he cannot be relied on, making silly fouls and unnecessarily surrendering possession in midfield. Oriol Romeu hasn’t been much better, but we all know how Southampton get on when Lemina partners Hojbjerg, so the former simply has to drop out ahead of the Leicester clash.
Lastly, it is absolutely imperative that Stuart Armstrong plays against Leicester. Southampton desperately missed the Scotsman’s efficiency and energy in midfield and there was no link from defence to attack against Everton. Hughes’ decision to bring Armstrong on with just minutes to go was rather baffling, given his strong start to life at Southampton, also.
