Everton vs Southampton: Carabao Cup preview | What next for the crisis-hit Toffees?

The soccer world's equivalent of the Truman Show goes on.

Fans of Everton have every reason to wonder how much more pain and letdown they can endure following another heavy loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Many fans I know didn’t have much faith that the Toffees would secure the victory, even after Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored their second goal. Once Ollie Watkins scored to make it 2-1, it seemed like a comeback was bound to happen.

To soften the blow, Villa's second goal resulted from an error, while their winning goal was a stunning long-range shot. Calvert-Lewin also had two excellent opportunities to score when the game was at 2-1 and 3-2. So, when viewed on its own, it was a somewhat unlucky loss against a strong team. However, after suffering three consecutive defeats, this only adds to the growing sense of disappointment surrounding the club.

However, circumstances can shift rapidly.

Unlike the Bournemouth match, Everton only has a three-day gap before their next game. Securing a victory against Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday would boost their spirits as they prepare for an important match against Leicester next weekend.

If the takeover issue can be sorted out in the coming months, it will help clear up some of the uncertainty that has affected the club for the past few years.

Being an Everton fan has been challenging lately, but there are glimmers of hope amid the darkness.

After spending a year in the Championship, Southampton has returned to the top tier, but the beginning of the season has been challenging for Russell Martin's team.

Similar to Everton, they have suffered defeats in all four of their league matches so far, allowing eight goals while managing to score only once. Their sole triumph came in the last round, where they achieved a 5-3 victory against Cardiff.

I anticipate that Martin will tweak his team, but just like Everton, they’ll need a win to boost their spirits.

On their most recent trip to Goodison Park in January 2023, they emerged victorious. However, the day was overshadowed by unverified claims of threats directed at the Everton board, along with a small group of fans approaching players following the match's conclusion.

Sean Dyche mentioned that Nathan Patterson and Jarrad Branthwaite probably won't play, as they are still recovering from injuries that kept them from participating in pre-season activities. Although both players resumed training last week, Dyche emphasized that they won't be hurried back into action.

Orel Mangala, who joined on loan just before the deadline and came on as a substitute for Villa on Saturday, is set to make his first start.

Southampton Defeats Everton 2-1 On Jan 14, 2023

It was a tough day for everyone at Goodison Park. Amadou Onana scored with a header in the first half, but James Ward-Prowse scored twice in the second half, bringing the struggling Saints to the same number of points as Everton.

Everton suffered their seventh loss in eight matches. The following week, after another defeat against West Ham, manager Frank Lampard was let go from his position.

Everton's coach Sean Dyche stated, "We'll be making some adjustments. It's important to provide game time to players who need to get back on the field."

"This week, playing three games takes a toll on our physical performance, so we need to adjust our strategy. We can't push too hard physically due to the strain these matches will place on the players, especially since we're short on numbers in some positions."

"I've mentioned this previously, and I want to emphasize, while the cups are significant, they don't hold the same weight as the Premier League. The Premier League is essential."

"We're going to have to use some players that we might not have chosen in a perfect situation, as they need more playing time and we need them to be back and competitive for our team."

Southampton manager Russell Martin stated, “Right now, the Everton match is our top priority. We will make some adjustments, and certain players will have the opportunity to prove themselves and earn a spot in the lineup since we haven't secured a win yet. While there have been plenty of positives, some players must build on today's efforts, develop further, and work on enhancing their performances while adapting to our methods.”

"I'm genuinely looking forward to it. This is a challenging matchup for a cup match, especially since it's an away game, but I believe it will turn out to be a fantastic experience."

Both managers will view this as the perfect chance to get their seasons back on track after a rocky beginning. Since both teams are expected to have many changes, it's tough to anticipate how things will unfold. However, any victory for Everton would be important considering the challenges they've faced in their campaign up to this point.