Top 5 things to look forward to in the EPL this weekend

4) Battle of the High Flyers as Lukaku takes on Lovren

Southampton will travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in what should be an excellent game of football. Both sides have done very well this season and have achieved these good results while playing an aesthetically pleasing brand of football too. Everton come into the game on the back of a shock home defeat to Sunderland, and will be looking to get back on track in the chase for European spots, while the Saints seem to have turned a corner after the excellent victory at Cardiff. Among the individual battles to look out for, Lukaku vs Lovren stands out.

The big Belgian has been key to Everton’s attacking play this season. In terms of numbers, he’s weighed in with 8 goals and 3 assists so far, and tactically, his physical presence is so important for the Everton side, who use him to bring their talented trio of midfielders into the game.

Importantly, he may be the main man for Everton as they look to counter the press masters of the Premier League. Chelsea showed a few weeks back that playing a big man up front and hitting long balls at him is a very good way to beat Southampton‘s furious pressing, and if Everton look to imitate Mourinho’s men, their resident big man, Lukaku, automatically becomes the main weapon.

The problem with that plan (from an Everton perspective) is Dejan Lovren. The towering Croatian defender has been a smart signing on the part of Pochettino, and a definite improvement on Jos Hooiveld, who was first choice last season. He’s won 3.5 aerial duels a game at an average this season, a very impressive number, and will have to repeat the trick to stop Everton.

Lukaku has won around 2.6 aerial duels a game this season, and if he can get the better of Lovren, the likes of Pienaar and Barkley will automatically have a lot more to feed on, and Everton will have an excellent chance of leaving Goodison with 3 points.