Saturday will find out whether Frank Lampard will revive Everton or whether it is going to be a tough end to the season for them, from a Saints perspective, this is a game that could see us on the cusp of Premier League safety.

A look at the Premier League table shows how important Saints taking 5 points out of the last 3 games was, indeed it was 3 games where on paper we should not have picked up a single point.

If that had been the case we would be nervously looking over our shoulders going into this game against Everton, instead we are looking upwards.

For Everton they are still a little worried, in their first game under Frank Lampard they were poor in a defeat at Newcastle, who look now like they have bought their way out of trouble with 3 straight Premier League wins preceded by 2 draws, who says that money can't buy you anything !

Last time out they beat Leeds United, but by all accounts it was a very poor performance by the Yorkshire side, who along with Brentford and indeed Everton themselves are outside bets for a shock relegation battle.

Ultimately though Everton have spent in the transfer window and brought in a new boss, Frank Lampard being the 7th of the Moshiri era as owner of Everton in under 6 years.

Will Lampard be the new messiah as have his 6 predecessors or will he become yet another statistic, as the Toffee's seem to lurch on with no real strategy other than to sack a manager the moment he hits a bad run.

In fairness the hated Rafa Benitez gone may mean the feelgood factor alone will save Everton, but they also have back Dominic Calvert Lewin, who has played just 7 times in the League this season and Richarlison who has played started just 13 games plus 2 as sub, the fact that only Demarai Gray has scored more goals than those two suggests why they are in trouble.

Saints go into this game full of confidence, since losing at Liverpool on 27th November they have lost just twice in the league, at Arsenal in mid December and then at Wolves a month ago, a sequence of 11 Premier League games in total.

We have been beaten just once at St Mary's in 11 Premier League outings, our problem though being we have won just 3 times and drawn the other 7.

After doing the hardwork in drawing with Manchester City, beating Spurs and our recent draw with Manchester United, we come into a run of games against those clubs below us in the table, the arrival of Everton starts a run of 6 straight games including the bottom 3 of sides whom we really should beat according to the form guide.

That of course is often turned upside down when it comes to Southampton Football Club and we have to make the next step in a season that has slowly built momentum by firstly despatching Everton and then continuing our good form.

The first step is to hit the 38 point mark, this has been good enough to avoid relegation in every season since 2010/11 and in reality in most season 34/36 has been enough.

Lets hit our first target and then see where we go from there, certainly with the games coming up we have the opportunity to really get some points on the board.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has some thinking to do, does he keep the 3-5-2 formation employed in the first half against United or does he start with a solid 4-4-2 that daw them home in the same game.

One thing that ralph has now is some genuine options and those that said he was a one trick pony are being proved wrong as he has showed when he has the players at his disposal he can use them and change tactics, not just at the start of a game, but even during it.

I think he should maybe go for the 4-4-2 and stick with the basics of the side that played most of the second half against United.

That means a back four of Livramento, Bednarek, Salisu & Perraud, in midfield JWP & Romeu in the centre with Stuart Armstrong & KWP out wide.

At Old Trafford the combination on the right of Tino Livramento & Kyle Walker Peters worked well and the complimented each other as when one surged forward the other dropped in to cover.

Up fron Armando Broja and Che Adams are a good partnership, Broja gets the headlines, but Che Adams has scored as many goals and from less minutes on the pitch, so we should not underestimate Che.

Indeed on that matter on the bench we should not forget Adam Armstrong, he only has two goals, but that is more than Che had at this period in his debut season and I think Adam Armstrong will flourish in the final third of the season.

The difference between now and a year ago will be the bench, aside from the goalkeeper, assuming my starting line up, Ralph will have Jack Stephens, Ibrahima Diallo, Nathan Redmond, Will Smallbone, Theo Walcott, Adam Armstrong, Yan Valery, Mohammed Elyounoussi, Moussa Djenepo & Shane Long to select his 8 outfield subs from, someone will have to miss out and we still have Nathan Tella & Lyanco to come back after injury & for that matter Thierry Small who is on the verge of breaking into Ralph Hasenhuttl's squad.

This is why we can look forward to the rest of the season with more confidence than we were doing this time last year, back then once we lost 3 or 4 of our core players we were struggling to having options off the bench, now we have those options.

This won't be an easy game, Everton are not only at their strongest since the opening month of the season, but they are also rejuvenated with a new manager, our job is to bring them back to reality and show them that they are far from safe from the relegation dog fight just yet.

Photo: Action Images

Colburn added 15:23 - Feb 18 I'm not sure you can drop Elyonoussi from the team.. I know you're not his biggest fan, judging by previous appraisals this season but he scored one and set up another in our last two outings and also played very well in both games both defensively and going forward. If Redmond had achieved this, he would have been the first name on the team sheet. In addition, partnerships have been vital to our recent success and he has built a good understanding and on field relationship with Perraud, so I'm very confused as to why you would suddenly drop him! Can't drop players in form and providing an end product. I would also keep Stephens in next to Salisu because he played a superb second half at old Trafford and I don't see the point in risking Bednarek a week after a quad twinge because we already have Lyanco out, so it makes huge sense to not risk Bednarek from the start. The FA Cup is in midweek soon so a busy schedule to come.. Whatever team we put out will have to be giving everything to garner a win and avenge the loss at Goodison.

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WestSussexSaint added 18:18 - Feb 18 Totally agree with Colburn. The Peraud / Elyounoussi partnership has been a big reason for the results in the last couple of games. Also why drop KWP for Livramento? Tino is still coming back from injury so there is no need to rush him back and KWP has been on fire with goals to add to his all round play. My preference is to go with the side that started at Old Trafford. Everton is a potentially tricky game and we can rest a few/give some fringe players a chance against Norwich. This will keep some fresh for the West Ham cup game.

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Peterx added 08:41 - Feb 19 On paper this Everton side like really dangerous and I think Lampard are going to have them up for it. I suspect this will be a high scoring game. Hoping we will come out on top or at least get a point. One silver lining is that they are looking stretched at the back with injuries. Che and Broja are likely to be able to put the defence under pressure. Richarlison also has a short fuse and if we can keep the pressing up on him that can get results. Also Docoure and Gray unlikely to start is good as they probably would start if fit. Just feel S Armstrong and to a lesser extent Ely will be key in finding the gaps given the defence will have have their hands full with Che and Broja.

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Block8 added 09:48 - Feb 19 Totally agree with Coburn, Stu & Ely give us greater balance and goal threat. If Bednarek is even slightly at risk then he stays out, we have a lot of games coming up and we will need him. I think Peraud and KWP have been excellent so deserve to start and Tino can make an impact from the bench. We have enough going forward to cause them big problems but they do have pace on the break and will be looking to turn us around. This will be a tougher game than the last two imo and we need to be on it from the start and not be too gung ho, I'm looking forward to it (but not the rain!) COYR

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KriSaint added 10:49 - Feb 19 I agree that we should start as we did in the last two games if Bednarek is 100 % fit. Perraud has really found the melody, which is great to see (as has Moi E., so I'd put Reddies on the bench while welcoming him back in the squad). Looking at the opponents injury list the Everton starting line up will almost certainly be something like: Pickford Coleman Keane Holgate Mykolenko Allan Gomez D Alli Van de Beek Richarlison Calwert-Lewin Not a bad team, and they have a new manager so it will be tough for us. I hope we keep our momentum and our heads ready and clear and are prepared for a fight, again, looking for 3 more points. COME ON YOU SAINTS! <3

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underweststand added 12:53 - Feb 19 Seems that a few people aren't 100% with your appraisal of the squad (Nick), although I do agree that Adam Armstrong will become a good goalscorer - given time. Neither Perraud, or Elyounoussi have nailed down a place this season, but as "new-ish players" which they effectively are, I think they've made a good impression and have improved out of sight during the last month. Likewise, everyone is enthusiastic about Livramento and Broja for their individual performances (and rightly so), but it takes time to create a "team spirit" and those two are still developing their own game. Ralph has said that he picks the team / formation according to the opposition and it's good to see that he does have a Plan B, but despite their lowly league position , I think Everton can be as challenging as either Manc. club. Sadly Everton have sold Digne , who was becoming a Saints asset via his "own goals" , but Richarlison is a continuing " thorn-in-the-flesh" with his regular scoring against us. We may well see a game with goals, but must see more of our efforts converted in order to come out on top, and get all 3 points.

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