League leaders Liverpool welcome struggling Southampton to Anfield on Saturday afternoon in what looks like a one-sided Premier League match. The Reds are chasing the title, while the Saints are fighting to avoid relegation.
Liverpool enters this game after a hard-fought 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Southampton was heavily beaten 4-0 by Chelsea in their last match.
Match Preview – Liverpool vs Southampton
Liverpool have been unstoppable this season. They have built a strong lead at the top of the Premier League table and compete for trophies in Europe and the Carabao Cup. Their recent win over PSG showed their determination, even when they were under pressure.
At Anfield, the Reds have been scoring goals for fun. They have netted at least twice in their last 18 home matches, making it difficult for any team to stop them. Even when they do not play their best football, they still manage to get results.
Southampton, on the other hand, are in deep trouble. They sit at the bottom of the table and are running out of time to avoid relegation. Their loss to Chelsea last week made their situation worse, as they remain 13 points away from safety with only 11 games left to play.
The Saints have already lost to Liverpool twice this season, once in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup. They have also lost their last six league games at Anfield, so a win here looks unlikely.
Team News
Liverpool could make some changes to their starting lineup as they manage a busy schedule with crucial games against PSG and Newcastle coming up. Arne Slot insists that any rotation will be to give Liverpool the best chance to beat Southampton, not just to rest players for upcoming matches.
Cody Gakpo remains in doubt after missing the PSG game due to a minor injury, and his availability will depend on how he responds to training. Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, and Tyler Morton are still unavailable due to injuries. Meanwhile, Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, will serve the final match of their FA touchline ban, meaning John Heitinga will once again take charge from the sidelines.
Southampton, on the other hand, will be without James Bree, who remains ruled out. However, they have received a boost with key players returning. Jan Bednarek and former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana are back in contention after missing recent matches due to injuries.
Kyle Walker-Peters, who had to come off against Chelsea, has recovered and is available for selection. Manager Ivan Juric is pleased to have his defensive options returning, as he believes Southampton perform better with Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the backline.
Key Stats
- Liverpool have won 11 of their last 13 Premier League games against Southampton, with the only exceptions being a 1-0 defeat in January 2021 and a 4-4 draw in May 2023.
- Liverpool have won their last seven matches against Southampton at Anfield, conceding just one goal in the last eight.
- The Reds have scored at least twice in 25 of their league games this season, more than any other team.
- Mohamed Salah has scored or assisted in 12 of Liverpool’s 13 home league games this season, including each of his last 11 in a row.
- Salah has 13 goal involvements (nine goals, four assists) in 12 Premier League appearances against Southampton.
- Salah needs one goal to equal Ian Rush’s club record of 10 league goals against Southampton.
- Salah has provided 17 open-play assists this season—only Thierry Henry (20 in 2002-03) has managed more in a single Premier League campaign.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 24 Premier League games (17 wins, seven draws).
- Diogo Jota has five goal involvements (four goals, one assist) in his last three league appearances against Southampton.
- Southampton have not won a league game at Anfield since September 2013.
