The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

Sunday’s events continue with both Merseyside teams in action as Everton host Leicester City at Goodison and Liverpool make the testing trip to the south coast to take on Southampton.

It’s four home matches without a win for Everton as they host Nigel Pearson’s Foxes – a team that have lost four on the bounce going into today’s meeting. Leighton Baines, who’d notched assists in two of his last five appearances before succumbing to injury, is back in contention after being passed fit by Roberto Martinez on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has registered a solitary goal in the past 11 Gameweeks, but heads into this fixture with momentum, having recorded his first hat-trick for the Toffees in their midweek Europa tie. Likewise, the Belgian’s opposite number, Andrej Kramaric, arrives in fine fettle having netted in the Leicester’s past two matches in all competitions.

Gameweek 26 concludes with a clash between Champions League hopefuls Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium, as Brendan Rodgers’ unit attempt to extend their unbeaten run to 10 league matches. Daniel Sturridge has delivered a goal and two assists in three appearances since recovering from injury, whilst fit-again Raheem Sterling has notched two goals and assists in his previous six league matches. The Reds face a tough task in breaching a Saints backline that has served up a clean sheet in eight of their 13 St Mary’s matches, though, whilst Ronald Koeman will be desperate for Graziano Pelle to get amongst the goals to end an eight-match barren run.