Liverpool v Southampton match preview
Liverpool’s bid to win a record-extending 11th EFL Cup title starts against opponents aiming to avoid a ninth successive defeat at Anfield when Championship team Southampton are their visitors on Tuesday.
Arne Slot’s side have won each of their first six matches in all competitions and the Dutchman oversaw three victories against the Saints during his first season in charge, including an away victory in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
The good news for Southampton is that defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai and last season’s Premier League top scorer, Mohamed Salah, will be rested ahead of Liverpool’s trip to fifth-placed Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 BST).
“I can tell you now, you won’t be seeing them on Tuesday,” Slot said after goals by Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike secured a 2-1 home win over Everton on Saturday.
“If that’s any help for Southampton, then they will know.”
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A 3-0 second round win at fellow second-tier club Norwich City has been the highlight for new Southampton manager Will Still in the midst of a five-match winless league run since beating Wrexham at home on the opening day.
Still’s side are two points above second-bottom Sheffield Wednesday following a 3-1 defeat at Hull City on Saturday and the next goal they concede to Liverpool will be the 200th Southampton have shipped against the Reds.
“It’s a good thing we’re playing again and we get the opportunity to erase the mistakes we made on Saturday,” said former Lens manager Still, via Southampton’s website.
“But no-one is stupid; no-one is blind to what the challenge is. They’re the best team in England – probably one of the best in Europe – and we have to go there with the belief that we can play football and that we’re good at doing certain things in our register.
“We just have to show a bit of personality, a bit of bravery to stand back up, to get back up. I just want us to have a go, to be brave and show a bit of what we’re about, not just go there and fold over and crumple.
“We need to be strong, we need to be good at what we do. Just go there and have a go.”
Liverpool v Southampton team news
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones returned from the bench against Everton following an unspecified injury.
Premier League-record £125 million signing Alexander Isak was also involved as a substitute as the striker builds his fitness and £116m midfielder Florian Wirtz replaced Cody Gakpo in the 61st minute.
Wing sensation Rio Ngumoha was an unused substitute but could become the youngest Liverpool player ever to score in the League Cup if he is involved against Southampton.
Ngumoha would achieve the feat 20 days earlier than record-holder Ben Woodburn, who netted at 17 years and 45 days of age.
Southampton’s Flynn Downes returned from illness on the bench against Hull but was not used, with Still explaining that the midfielder “didn’t feel great” on Friday.
Striker Cameron Archer had a hamstring issue but came off the bench. Left-back Welington has an ankle injury.
“Welly is still working his way back,” said Still, who changed almost his entire line-ups for the win at Norwich and 1-0 victory at third-tier Northampton Town in the first round.
“We’ve got a massive squad. Some players need to play, some players need an opportunity, so that’s what’s going to happen.
“But we’re never going to completely disregard it and put a load of Under-21s. We’ve got a lot of good players and some… deserve this opportunity, but also some players who have done really well considering the lesser results of the last few weeks, so it’s about getting the right mix between those players that need to play and the ones that deserve to play as well.
“It will present a few opportunities for other players, so just go for it – don’t overthink it, don’t overanalyse it, stand up and be counted.
“Whatever team will start will be the team we think is the best to play the game at this moment in time and have a right go.”
Liverpool v Southampton expected lineups
Liverpool starting XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong, Rio Ngumoha, Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones, Trey Nyoni, Federico Chiesa, Jayden Danns
Southampton starting XI: Alex McCarthy, Elias Jelert, Joshua Quarshie, Nathan Wood, Ryan Manning, Mads Roerslev, Ryan Fraser, Shea Charles, Leo Scienza, Jay Robinson, Adam Armstrong
How to watch Liverpool v Southampton: TV channel, live stream
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Ultra, ITV1 and STV.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports memberships include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live streams and a dedicated channel.
The game can be streamed via Sky GO, ITVX and STV Player.
Liverpool v Southampton stats
- In 12 of the last 14 Liverpool matches the sum of goals was over 3.5
- In 11 of the last 12 Liverpool home matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 12 of the last 14 Liverpool matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 5 of the last 6 Liverpool matches the sum of goals was over 4.5
- Liverpool have won 6 of the last 7 home matches in the EFL Cup and the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 13 of the last 15 Southampton away matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 15 of the last 17 Southampton matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 9 of the last 10 Southampton away matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 7 of the last 8 Southampton matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 6 of the last 8 Southampton matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
Liverpool v Southampton prediction
Southampton’s unconvincing form and Still’s tendency to make wholesale changes in the competition make it seem particularly unlikely his team will cause an upset here, although they do have previous at Anfield, where Shane Long scored a 90th-minute winner in the 2016/17 semi-finals to complete their aggregate victory.
More likely is a Liverpool win with both teams scoring, so back 3-1. Despite their dreadful 2024/25, Saints scored four times against Liverpool and have netted in six of the last seven editions of the fixture.
