Southampton vs. Liverpool: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Liverpool are flying at the top of the Premier League and come into this game unbeaten in their last 13 games, winning 12 of those. Southampton, on the other hand, have won only one game this season, losing nine of their 11 matches.

Southampton have failed to score in two of their last three matches, while Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in both of their last two. In fact, Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in six of their 11 games so far this season.

It does, then, feel like an away win is as close to an inevitability as you're likely to get in football. Southampton 0-3 Liverpool.

Liverpool are looking to solidify their place atop the Premier League table as they take on Southampton this weekend.

• Date: 241/1/2024
• Kick-off time: 14:00
• Location: St Mary's Stadium, Southampton

Southampton are currently bottom of the Premier League table with four points from eleven games. Promoted from the Championship at the back end of last season, this campaign as always expected to be somewhat of a slog for the Saints, but they've had real trouble with the step up in quality.

Despite producing some good moments, Russell Martin's side have looked out of their depth at times and there are serious doubts about whether or not they have the quality needed to survive the drop. Southampton play a very brave, risky brand of possession-based football that is centred around building up from very deep in their own third, and while that served them well in the Championship, they are naturally finding it difficult to apply that approach at a much higher level, and Martin has come under intense critcism for his dogmatic belief that the side has to play in that specific manner.

Questions must also be asked of the club's transfer policy, which was largely centred around bringing in younger talents, many of whom are unproven at this level. As of now, it feels as though the Saints will need to reinforce their squad significantly in the summer if they want to survive this season.

A home game against a surging Liverpool side is a very poorly timed fixture from their perspective and the likelihood is that the result will only add to their woes. However, if they can manage to give a good account of themselves, or even get a result, it could have a huge galvanising effect on the squad, potentially providing the team with a platform from which to build.

Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League with 28 points from 11 games. It's been the stuff of dreams for Arne Slot in his first few months as Liverpool manager as his side have opened up a five-point gap over Manchester City. It's still early days, of course, but Liverpool look every bit a title contender, something that many people doubted coming into the season.

The Reds' transition from Jürgen Klopp to Slot has been a smooth one, and it's extra impressive that their form is so strong having not made any significant signings in the summer. Several players have really stepped up so far this season, notably Ryan Gravenberch in his new role in midfield, while Luis Díaz has been an outstanding attacking threat. Mohammed Salah has been his usual murcurial self too, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has delivered his fair share of moments.

One huge bright spot has the performances of midfielder Curtis Jones, who looks to be thriving under Slot. Jones has been in and out of the Liverpool side since he broke through as an academy product and has been unable to nail down a consistent place in the side. This season, though, he's playing the best stuff of his career and he has a real chance to cement himself as a regular starter.

It's widely expected that Liverpool will win this game and win it comfortably but games of this nature can never be taken lightly and often end up being surprisingly tricky. A win here will serve to build on their momentum and they'll firmly have their eyes on three points.

This game will be televised live to all subscribed UK viewers on Sky Sports Main Event.

Southampton Team News:

Aaron Ramsdale is a major doubt with a broken finger, while Jan Bednarek, Ryan Fraser, Will Smallbone, Ross Stewart and Gavin Bazunu are all likely to miss out.

Tyler Dibling will hope for a recall to the starting lineup, likely at the expense of Adam Armstrong.

Predicted lineup: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning, Sugawara; Dibling, Lallana, Downes, Fernandes; Archer.

Liverpool Team News:

Liverpool remain without Alisson, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is a doubt after missing the latest England camp with a muscle injury.

Andy Robertson should take the left-back spot ahead of Kostas Tsimikas, while Curtis Jones will battle it out with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to start in midfield.

Predicted lineup: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Núñez, Díaz.

Southampton are entering this game with one win and four defeats from their last five games. The Saints' latest outing was a 2-0 defeat away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a result that followed a 1-0 win over Everton where Adam Armstrong claimed a late winner in a game low on quality.

Prior to that, Russell Martin's men were beaten 1-0 away at Manchester City, which was preceded by a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat at home to Leicester City where the Saints sacrificed a 2-0 lead to lose the game in stoppage time.

The remaining result in that five-game period was a 3-1 loss away at Arsenal.

Liverpool's form is much, much stronger as they come into this game with four wins and one draw from their last five. Last time out, Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield thanks to goals from Darwin Núñez and Mohammed Salah, a game that followed a thumping 4-0 win over German champions Bayer Leverkusen, with the goals coming from Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo.

Before that, Salah and Gakpo gave the Reds a hard-fought 2-1 win over Brighton, which followed a 3-2 win over Brighton in the EFL Cup and a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates.

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