LIVERPOOL – SOUTHAMPTON | Saturday 4pm
Benedetti kicks penalties. Both Jurgen Klopp and Ruben Selles – Southampton’s interim coach – must have thought that once the third round of the League Cup, which was played this week, was over. Liverpool and the Saints, who find themselves facing each other on the last day of the Premier League before the World Cup break, avoided a resounding elimination thanks to shots from the penalty spot. The Reds struggled mightily against Derby County (League One) in a less-than-exciting 0-0 draw, while the Saints got the better of relegated nobility Sheffield Wednesday (League One) thanks to Iorfa’s spot-kick error after regulation time had ended 1-1. An outcome that is not surprising if we consider that Southampton fired Ralph Hasehuttl a few days ago, after the heavy home defeat (1-4) against Newcastle last Sunday.
Take his place will be Nathan Jones, former Luton Town coach, who just yesterday signed a three-year deal. It will be up to him to get the Saints out of trouble: they are currently third-last in the table and have only won one game since August. As for Liverpool, Salah and his team-mates are trying to find the continuity that has been lacking until now, and the victories against Napoli in the Champions League and Tottenham in the Premier League are going in that direction, even if getting back into the title fight will be very complicated.
Southampton’s Perraud exultation
The Prediction
The biggest pitfalls for this Liverpool side so far have come from the ‘small boys’ as shown by the recent defeats to Nottingham Forest and Leeds. Southampton have just changed technical guidance but nobody expects the new coach to start scoring points from the – on paper impossible – challenge at Anfield Road. The Reds’ victory, in short, should not be in question in a match with at least three goals in total.
Liverpool v Southampton matchday squad
- LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Salah, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Elliott; Darwin Nunez, Firmino.
- SOUTHAMPTON (3-5-2): Bazunu; Lyanco, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu; Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, S. Armstrong, Perraud; Aribo, Adams.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
