Liverpool and Southampton meet for the 40th time in the Premier League on Friday, with the Reds having won 19 of the previous 39, drawing 10 and losing 10. Here’s all the pre-match stats.
It’s a trip to the coast for Jurgen Klopp‘s side, where the Reds have suffered seven defeats from 19 trips to Southampton in the Premier League era.
Last season the Reds won 2-0 at St Mary’s, with both goals coming in the opening 45 minutes. Roberto Firmino broke the deadlock on six minutes with Mo Salah doubling the advantage three minutes before half-time.
Earlier this season Liverpool won the Anfield encounter 3-0 with all the goals also coming in first half – through Wesley Hoedt (o.g.), Joel Matip and Mo Salah. It was the second successive 3-0 victory over the Saints at Anfield.
Indeed, the Reds have won the last 3 league clashes scoring 8 times after failing to find the net in the previous 4 league and cup games with Southampton.
Liverpool have lost just once in the last 10 league meetings home and away, winning 6 and drawing the other 3.
The Reds biggest away win at Southampton was the 3-0 in March 2014 with goals from Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and a Steven Gerrard penalty.
Saints connection
Adam Lallana played 265 times for Saints in league and cup scoring 60 times.
Dejan Lovren made 31 appearances for Southampton in his only season at St Mary’s (2013/14) – netting twice, one of those coming at Anfield. His cameo appearance in stoppage time of last Sunday’s game with Spurs was his first in the league since the match at Manchester City on January 3rd.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain began his career with Southampton, playing 43 times and scoring 10 goals. When making his debut for the club in March 2010 he became the Saints second youngest ever player after Theo Walcott, aged 16 years 199 days.
Georginio Wijnaldum‘s first goal in England came in a meeting with Southampton in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle in August 2015 – on his Premier League debut.
Virgil van Dijk played 80 times for Southampton from 2015-18 scoring 7 times, including 4 in 67 league games. He has played in all of the Reds last 45 league matches, with his side conceding 27 times.
Divock Origi‘s first goals for Liverpool were his hat-trick on this ground in a League Cup tie in 2015.
Naby Keita was managed by current Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl at RB Leipzig.
Reds’ records
Liverpool could record back-to-back away league wins for the first time since December.
Five of James Milner‘s 6 goals this season have been scored away from home, including the winner at Fulham in the Reds last away fixture.
Trent Alexander-Arnold could play his 50th league game for the club.
Joel Matip‘s last Liverpool goal came against today’s opponents at Anfield back in September. He has started each of the last 12 league and cup games.
Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 13 matches in league and cup and in the last 11 in the league.
Saints’ struggles… and improvements
In the last 20 games in league and cup Southampton have kept 3 clean sheets – the goalless draw at Chelsea, a 2-0 home victory over Fulham and last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Brighton.
The Saints have scored in 11 of their last 12 games in league and cup.
In the last 10 fixtures in all competitions Southampton have scored 3 first half goals out of a total of 14.
Of their 15 home games this season in the top-flight they have won 4 times – Arsenal (3-2), Everton (2-1), Fulham (2-0) and Tottenham (2-1).
Ralph Hasenhuttl officially took charge of Southampton on December 6th last year. His predecessor Mark Hughes had overseen one win in their opening 14 games, taking a total of 9 points. They were off the bottom and in 18th place, solely on goal difference.
In Hasenhuttl’s first game in charge they recorded their first victory of the campaign at St. Mary’s, defeating Arsenal 3-2. Since then they have continued to take points off the top six, drawing 0-0 at Chelsea and beating Tottenham 2-1 in their last home game. They also lost narrowly 3-2 at Manchester United.
The Saints have won 2 of their 3 home games against the top-6 under Hasenhuttl after not managing any wins in 14 games under Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes.
Of the 16 league games since the managerial change Saints have won 7 and lost 6 with 3 draws.
This season Southampton have lost 20 points from winning positions, from which 12 have been lost at home.
And finally…
Liverpool now have as many points (79) as they did when they last lifted the league title in 1989-90.
They have won more games this season (24) than in that title-winning campaign (23).
Scorers this season (league in brackets):
Liverpool: Mane 20 (17), Salah 20 (17), Firmino 14 (12), Milner 6 (4), Shaqiri 6 (6), Sturridge 4 (2), Van Dijk 4 (3), Origi 3 (2), Alexander-Arnold 1 (1), Fabinho 1 (1), Lovren 1 (1), Matip 1 (1), Wijnaldum 2 (2), own goals 3 (3).
Southampton: Ings 8 (7), Redmond 6 (3), Ward-Prowse 6 (6), Armstrong 4 (3), Hojbjerg 4 (4), Austin 3 (2), Valery 2 (2), Bertrand 1 (1), Gabbiadini 1 (1), Long 1 (1), Obafemi 1 (1), Romeu (1), Soares 1 (1), Stephens 1 (1), own goals 1 (1).
* All stats thanks to LFC club statistician Ged Rea.
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