Everton will play at Goodison Park for the final time when they welcome Southampton to L4 in what is set to be an emotional afternoon on Merseyside this Sunday in the Premier League.
While it will be a day that no Everton fan would have wished for, leaving their sacred home after 133 years, they will be keen to make it a special occasion, and one that will ensure that Goodison remains part of the club's identity forevermore.
Match preview
© Imago
To the delight of all Everton fans, there has been nothing riding on their final few matches at Goodison, when it looked as though they may have been fighting against relegation just a few months ago.
David Moyes's return has breathed new life into the team, who have become difficult to beat both home and away in 2025, and while the football itself may take a backseat for this encounter, they will still be comfortable favourites.
A 3-1 win at Fulham last weekend moved Everton back up to 13th, leading the cluster of clubs that are lingering just above the drop zone, but a substantial distance clear, given the struggles of the three promoted clubs.
What made last week's win at Craven Cottage more surprising, apart from the fact they beat a club who were unbeaten in seven matches against them, and significantly higher in the table, is that Everton came from behind to do so.
That was the first time in over two-and-a-half years that the Toffees had won a Premier League away game after going behind, failing to win on any of the previous 27 occasions.
© Imago
In addition to this, it was also the first time they had come from behind on the road to win by two clear goals since 2008, midway through Moyes's initial 11-year spell at the club.
Returning to Goodison for its emotional finale may not bring much joy on the pitch though, because Everton are winless in their last six matches here, their longest such run since 2009.
Also, no matter the outcome, they will record the lowest number of league wins across a campaign in the club's history, as they are currently on four, with the previous low being six.
Home comforts have brought no advantage this season, because Everton have taken exactly 21 points both home and away during 2024-25, but they have won more times away from Goodison, and picked up six points more on the road since Moyes's arrival.
It was not a happy away day when they travelled to St Mary's earlier in the campaign though, because a 1-0 win for Southampton was their first of the campaign, and the only one they managed in any of their first 23 matches of the season.
© Imago
Goodison has proven to be a daunting place to go for the Saints though, because no club has suffered more Premier League defeats at this venue than them, and another here would take that tally 17, moving them one ahead of West Ham United, who have also lost 16.
The visitors should at least travel here in relatively high spirits, after avoiding the ignominy of recording the lowest points tally in Premier League history, thanks to their 0-0 draw with Manchester City last weekend, which took them to 12 points, one better than Derby County's record in 2007-08.
Interim boss Simon Rusk will know his side rode their luck against the outgoing champions though, allowing 26 shots on their goal, but a misfiring City were unable to take advantage of their territorial domination.
Southampton's final fixtures looked daunting, with Arsenal to come on the final day, as well as playing in Goodison Park's farewell, but while it is still a haunting season, they can breathe a slight sigh of relief that they are not record-breakers.
Team News
© Imago
Everton lost another important defender last week as Jake O'Brien missed the win over Fulham with an unspecified injury, joining James Tarkowski on the sidelines, but Michael Keane done a stellar deputising for the Irishman, netting the goal that put them in front, while also keeping Fulham at bay at the other end.
Beto should keep his place ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, after reaching double figures for the season with Everton's third goal last week, and only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Jean-Philippe Mateta have more PL goals than him since Moyes's appointment.
Orel Mangala and Jesper Lindstrom are Everton's other injury absentees, while there will be some interest around who starts at right-back, given that it will potentially be fan favourite and captain Seamus Coleman's last match for the club, but an appearance from the bench may be more likely.
Kyle Walker-Peters is the only doubt for Southampton, after he missed the draw against Man City due to illness, with Welington stepping in and performing well on his first start since mid-February.
Lesley Ugochukwu's half-time substitution was purely tactical, as he was close to picking up a second yellow card, and there will be competition for a start in the engine room with the likes of Joe Aribo and Will Smallbone hoping to feature.
Rusk did not start with a recognised striker last week, but that could change here against weaker opposition, with Cameron Archer hoping to be handed the opportunity, with Tyler Dibling moving out wide, after playing as a false nine against City.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Young, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Alcaraz, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, McNeil; Beto
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Welington; Mateus Fernandes, Downes, Aribo, Dibling; Archer
We say: Everton 1-0 Southampton
Every Everton fan will say it will be typical if they lose their final fixture at Goodison Park, but even though they have fallen to defeat in both encounters with the Saints this season, the players they have available are capable of winning them the game, and they should be well motivated to do so.
Southampton had a misfiring Man City attack to thank for them not suffering a heavy defeat last weekend, and even though the all-time lowest points tally has now been avoided, it would be a surprise to see the visitors take more points here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
