The Daily Star Ireland
Southampton would have preferred facing almost any other opponent, even from the Premier League, except for Liverpool, who are currently one of the top teams in Europe. Their dominant position in both the league and the Champions League speaks for itself.
While Southampton has returned to the Premier League after a stint in the Championship, their recent form has been disappointing, with a five-game winless streak in the league, including four losses. These included defeats to Wolverhampton, a narrow loss to Liverpool (2-3), a heavy loss to Chelsea (1-5), and a tight defeat against Aston Villa (1-0). Southampton did, however, secure three victories in the EFL, including wins against Cardiff, Everton, and Stoke City.
Liverpool, as the Premier League leaders and favorites for this matchup, have been in strong form. Their only surprise loss this season came against Nottingham Forest in September. Last week, Liverpool managed a 3-3 draw against Newcastle, and in the Champions League, they won all their group-stage matches, including a 1-0 win against Girona. They will be looking to bounce back from their recent league draw with Fulham.
However, Southampton’s squad is plagued by injuries, with key players like Ross Stewart, Smallbone, Ramsdale, Onuachu, and Lallana all sidelined. There are also concerns with Bednarek, Larios, and goalkeeper Bazunu. Despite this, Southampton can count on some young talent like Ghanaian Sulemana and striker Archer, who has shown promise in limited appearances.
Liverpool also has a few injury worries, with Konaté, Tsimikas, Jota, and Bradley unavailable. But key players like Mohamed Salah, who has scored 13 goals in the Premier League, as well as Nunez, Diaz, and Van Dijk, will still be available.
Prediction
Considering Southampton’s poor home form and the strength of Liverpool’s away performances, the Reds are expected to dominate this match. With Southampton struggling and Liverpool continuing to impress, a dominant 4-0 victory for Liverpool seems likely.
