Three more wins will guarantee a top-four finish for Liverpool this season, and Southampton are the Reds’ latest hurdle to overcome.
Liverpool vs. Southampton
Monday, May 7, 2017 – 1:30pm KO (BST)
Anfield
Premier League
Referee: Bobby Madley
Last weekend couldn’t have been much better for Liverpool, with their 1-0 over Watford leaving them third in the Premier League, following dropped points by Man City, Man United and Arsenal.
Emre Can‘s Goal of the Season contender got Jurgen Klopp‘s side over the line at Vicarage Road, in one of the most significant wins of 2016/17 so far.
The Reds are heavily fancied to seal a top-four finish now, but they must not rest on their laurels in the final straight.
Southampton visit Anfield on Sunday knowing they have a slight hoodoo on their opponents, with no goals conceded in three matches against them this season.
Claude Puel’s side have very little to play for, which should benefit Liverpool, but they have players who can hurt you on their day.
Anfield has lost its early-season aura of late, with limp recent performances against Burnley, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace all proof of that. Improvements are needed in front of an expectant home crowd.
Winning really is all that matters, however, with failure to qualify for the Champions League unthinkable from this position.
The penultimate Anfield game of the campaign is sure to be a tense one at times – come on Reds, make it five wins from the last seven matches.
Last league meeting: Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
Team News
Klopp confirmed that there was nothing new to report on Jordan Henderson, with the captain’s season increasingly looking like it is over.
Things are more positive with Philippe Coutinho, however, with the Brazilian having a good chance of starting on Sunday, despite suffering a dead leg against Watford.
Adam Lallana may come in against his former club, following a successful return to action on Monday, although ex-Saint Sadio Mane is out until the summer.
Lucas Leiva is expected to continue in midfield, having registered three assists in his last five appearances, so Lallana could come in for Divock Origi.
Daniel Sturridge will again feature from the substitutes’ bench, while man-of-the-moment Can will hope to continue his excellent form in the middle of the park.
Liverpool transfer target Virgil van Dijk is still injured for Southampton, and will not feature again in 2016/17, but he is only key man missing for the visitors.
Form
Liverpool – Last five results (all competitions)
Won 1-0 vs. Watford
Lost 2-1 vs. Crystal Palace
Won 1-0 vs. West Brom
Won 2-1 vs. Stoke
Drew 2-2 vs. Bournemouth
Southampton – Last five results (all competitions)
Drew 0-0 vs. Hull
Lost 4-2 vs. Chelsea
Lost 3-0 vs. Man City
Won 1-0 vs. West Brom
Won 3-1 vs. Crystal Palace
Klopp’s View
In his press conference at Melwood, Klopp discussed Coutinho’s fitness and the future of in-form Can:
“Phil yesterday was running for the first time. He looked a little bit like [goalkeeper coach] John Achterberg,” Klopp joked.
“It’s good news. We cannot be 100 percent sure, because we have to wait see how he improves, but in this moment it looks rather positive.”
On Can:
“After the bicycle kick [at Watford] everyone wants him (Can) to stay, for sure.
“There’s no secret how much I like Emre. He likes the club, and it’s a completely normal situation.
“Good players we can keep, that makes real sense for development. He’s one of these good players and I’m quite positive.”
TV Info
The match is part of Sky Sports 1’s Super Sunday offering, which is available to live stream with a NOW TV day pass (10% off) in the UK.
Kick off is at 1:30pm (BST), with coverage getting underway at 12:30pm. Man United‘s trip to Arsenal follows the Anfield showdown.
For US-based fans, Liverpool vs. Southampton is being shown live on NBC SN in the US, which is available to live stream with FuboTV.
Alternatively, you can tune into our matchday live blog, with Ben Twelves in the chair this week. Minute-by-minute updates will come your way from 12:45pm.
Betting
Liverpool are 8/13 to prevail at home to the south coast outfit for only the second time since 2012, strengthening their hold on third place in the process.
The two sides played out a 0-0 draw in the league at St Mary’s back in November, and Claude Puel’s team are never easy to overcome. The draw is 27/10.
A Southampton win would really set the cat among the pigeons, and cause a seismic meltdown among the Liverpool fanbase. They are 5/1 to trigger it.
Fan Comments