With the competition entering its latter stages, this fixture, matching a seventh-placed Southampton against an eighth-placed Liverpool, is of high importance to both sides.
The Saints edge their visitors only on goal difference and have played two more games but will be looking at this match as a way to secure their position and start looking upwards on the table.
The Reds, on the other hand, will be looking to begin an end of season push to see themselves finish in a European qualification slot. Confidence will be high among the squad having confirmed its passage through to the quarter-finals in the Europa League after a 1-1 result with Manchester United midweek, seeing the tie finish 3-1 over both legs.
Key Battle – José Fonte vs Roberto Firmino
The Southampton skipper received his first red card in over 300 English football appearances after dragging down Sunderland’s Fabio Borini and spent a week on the sidelines but looks set to return to the lineup this week. Liverpool seem to have a variety of options as to who could operate as the point of the attack but it seems Firmino is the most dangerous of these.
CrownBet match odds at time of publishing
His clubs’ top goalscorer with nine, the Brazilian forward appears to have adjusted after a slow start to life in England. Smart dribbling and good touch have seen him combine well with the likes of Phillippe Coutinho and look one of the more incisive in the Reds’ attacking third. With Firmino’s goals coming more often when he is allowed to operate as the striker rather than sitting in behind, Klopp must decide whether he is prepared to award the starting slot to the former Hoffenheim man.
Team News
Ronald Koeman will be free to select Sadio Mané after the club successfully appealed a controversial red card awarded to the Senegalese winger in the dying stages of the clash against Stoke City. Captain José Fonte is free to return after fulfilling a one match ban. Charlie Austin has not yet have recovered from injury and will most likely not feature, leaving Graziano Pellè to continue after his brace in the last match.
Klopp appears to have no new injuries to deal with although whom he decides fit enough to back up from the Thursday night match is very much a mystery. It is unclear whether Alberto Moreno will be available after picking up a hamstring injury in the final training session before the match against United.
Predicted Lineups
Southampton Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1) – Forster (gk); Bertrand, van Dijk, Fonte (c), Martina; Romeu, Clasie; Tadić, Davis, Long; Pellè
Liverpool Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1) – Mignolet (gk); Moreno, Sakho, Lovren, Clyne; Can, Henderson (c); Milner, Coutinho, Lallana; Firmino
Head-to-Head
There has been a total of 78 meetings between these two sides with Liverpool holding bragging rights, coming out on top on 39 occasions. The Saints have taken three points in 20 instances with the remaining 19 seeing spoils shared.
Previous Meeting
The last league meeting between these teams was a 1-1 draw at Anfield in October with goals to Christian Benteke and Mané, who was sent off later in that match. In December they met again, however this time, the Reds booted the team from St. Mary’s out of the cup in a resounding 6-1 drubbing.
Prediction
Despite Liverpool having a short turnaround, they look in the far greater form and confidence will surely enhance their performance. Klopp’s side has looked fluent and well drilled in recent matches and seems to have renewed its vigour after losing out to Manchester City on penalties in the League Cup final. Koeman’s side has by no means looked poor but has lacked consistency, probably not helped by a constant tinkering with formation not letting them settle into a rhythm.
Southampton 1 Liverpool 2
*CrownBets odds at time of publishing are subject to change
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