Prediction: Liverpool vs Southampton

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 8/15

Bookmaker: 888sport

Liverpool, fresh from their improbable 1-0 triumph over PSG in the Champions League last-16 first leg, return to Premier League action against bottom-placed Southampton at Anfield on Saturday.

The Saints, who suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in their previous outing, face a daunting task against the league leaders in what appears to be a clear mismatch on paper.

Liverpool

Liverpool took the term “smash and grab” to a whole new level, owing their first-leg advantage at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night to an outstanding display from goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who described it as the best performance of his career.

Having weathered a relentless Parisian onslaught and seen Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s goal disallowed for a marginal offside, the Reds sent their travelling fans into ecstasy when Harvey Elliott slotted home, putting Arne Slot’s men in control ahead of next week’s decisive second leg.

Still chasing a domestic and European treble, with the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United just days after PSG’s trip to Anfield, Liverpool have capitalized on Arsenal’s attacking struggles to open up what appears to be an insurmountable 13-point lead atop the Premier League table.

Not every Liverpool showing in recent months has been spectacular, but at this stage, results outweigh performances, and the Reds have avoided defeat in each of their last 24 league fixtures.

Only once in Premier League history has an unbeaten run of 24 or more games been ended by the league’s bottom club—Manchester United’s 29-match streak was halted by Wolves in February 2011 – but given that Slot’s side have scored at least twice in 18 consecutive home matches, concerns should be minimal.

Team News

Although he traveled to Paris for the Champions League clash, Dutch forward Cody Gakpo was unable to feature in the first leg due to a recent knock, and his availability for Saturday’s home match against Southampton remains somewhat uncertain.

Slot, still serving a domestic touchline ban, will again be without Tyler Morton (shoulder), Joe Gomez (hamstring), and Conor Bradley (hamstring), but the Reds boss may look to rotate his squad slightly between two crucial PSG encounters.

Match-winner Elliott, Curtis Jones, and Darwin Nunez are among those pushing for a starting spot, though Mohamed Salah is expected to keep his place as the Egyptian aims to score or assist in a 12th straight Premier League home game.

Southampton

Separated by a massive 58-point gulf in the Premier League standings, Southampton are heading straight back to the Championship, while Liverpool continue their seemingly unstoppable rise to top-flight glory.

Former Roma and Torino boss Ivan Juric has yet to orchestrate the miracle required to keep the Saints up, and with their tally stuck at nine points, they remain at risk of recording the lowest Premier League total in history.

Chelsea may have had their struggles recently, but they had no trouble dismantling Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge last week, leaving the Saints 13 points adrift of safety with only 11 matches remaining.

Despite spending the 2023-24 season in the Championship, Southampton have still lost more Premier League games than all but one team since the start of 2022-23; their 47 defeats in two campaigns are second only to Wolves’ 54 over three.

The Saints at least fought hard in narrow home losses to Liverpool in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup in late 2024, but they have lost on each of their last six Anfield visits in the league, and their fans could be bracing for a seventh on Saturday.

Team News

Juric faces concerns over defenders James Bree and Kyle Walker-Peters, both injured against Chelsea, making them two of seven absentees for Southampton.

Former Liverpool man Adam Lallana (thigh) and Jan Bednarek (fatigue) are doubtful, though the latter is expected to be fit, while Ross Stewart (fitness), Juan Larios (fitness), and Ryan Fraser (calf) remain sidelined.

However, there is one boost in the form of Lesley Ugochukwu’s return; the Chelsea loanee was ineligible to face his parent club but is now set to slot straight back into midfield.

Conclusion

There is a reason for this vast difference in the league table between these two teams and it’s fairly likely to show on Saturday.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 8/15

Bookmaker: 888sport