Southampton will host Liverpool in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night, with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.
Southampton are coming into the game vs Liverpool on the back of five defeats from the last six outings, and they will be desperate to get a good result here. The Saints have failed to win any of the last six matches against Liverpool, and they need to produce a strong performance to grind out a positive result.
Meanwhile, the visitors have endured two frustrating domestic games in a row, dropping points against Newcastle United and Fulham in their last two Premier League matches. However, Liverpool will aim to move on from those results when they resume their EFL Cup campaign vs Southampton.
Southampton reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals by beating Cardiff City, Everton (on penalties), and Stoke City in the previous rounds. On the other hand, Liverpool got past West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion to qualify for the Last Eight stage. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Southampton
Southampton will be without Gavin Bazunu due to an Achilles injury, Ross Stewart due to a calf injury, while William Smallbone will miss out due to a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Jack Stephens will serve the final of his three-game suspension.
The home team will shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Taylor Harwood-Bellis will start alongside Jan Bednarek and Nathan Wood in the back three. Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters will start as the wing-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and protect the central defenders.
As for the midfield unit, Joe Aribo will start alongside Flynn Downes and Lesley Ugochukwu in the middle of the park. They will look to protect the side defensively and add physicality in the middle. Finally, Adam Armstrong will start alongside Ben Brereton Diaz in the strike partnership.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood; Sugawara, Aribo, Ugochukwu, Downes, Walker-Peters; Armstrong, Diaz
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Conor Bradley due to a hamstring injury, while Ibrahima Konate is recovering from a knee injury. Meanwhile, Andrew Robertson is suspended after seeing red this past weekend against Fulham.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Southampton, with Alisson Becker in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Joe Gomez will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add composure and defensive cover to the side from the deep. Curtis Jones will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities and get on the scoresheet. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add creativity and goals from the wide areas, with Diogo Jota leading the line for Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Jota
Key Stats
Liverpool have scored at least three goals in their last four matches vs Southampton in all competitions.
Liverpool have picked up five wins and a draw from the last six matches against Southampton.
Southampton are winless in their last six matches in all competitions.
Liverpool are unbeaten in the last five matches in all competitions.
Southampton have conceded 17 goals in the last six outings.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
Embed from Getty Images
The Egyptian International is in impressive form right now, and he is our key player to watch out for. Salah will look to create goalscoring opportunities for Liverpool in the final third and add to his goal tally for the season as well.
The experienced Egyptian attacker has eight goals and six assists to his name in the last nine outings in all competitions. Southampton have been quite poor defensively, and the Egyptian could punish them here.
Prediction
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool managed to pick up a 3-2 win over Southampton recently in the Premier League, and they will be hoping to secure a win here as well. The gulf in quality between the two teams is quite apparent, and Liverpool should be able to grind out a close win to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Southampton have been quite porous at the back, and their defensive unit is likely to let them down once again. A narrow win is on the cards for Liverpool, even though Russell Martin’s departure can lead to the dreaded new manager bounce for the home side.