Southampton vs Liverpool Preview, Team News, Line-Ups, Betting Tips & Prediction

Liverpool will be looking to take a positive result back to Anfield when they take on Southampton in their EFL Cup semi-final first leg at St Mary’s this evening.

The Reds were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Plymouth in the third round of the FA Cup at the weekend but the stalemate extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.

Jurgen Klopp has vowed to field his strongest side tonight so we should expect to see the big-guns returning to the starting eleven after being rested against Argyle, despite Liverpool facing a crucial trip to Manchester United in the league on Sunday.

If the first leg was being played at Anfield Klopp may have been tempted to give a few key men a breather but playing Southampton away should be a difficult task so understandably the German coach wants to field his best team.

However, the Saints come in to the game in poor form having been held to a 2-2 draw by Norwich in the FA Cup on Saturday which followed three consecutive league defeats so Claude Puel will be desperate to get back to winning ways tonight.

Team news

Liverpool welcome Philippe Coutinho back in to the squad after he finally recovered from a niggling ankle ligament injury but the Brazilian international is only expected to be named on the bench.

Klopp has hinted that Loris Karius will continue in goal while Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan, Gini Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino are all expected to come back in to the starting eleven.

James Milner has been passed fit after a minor calf problem while Daniel Sturridge is also expected to start along with Divock Origi in attack with Sadio Mane off to the African Cup of Nations.

Jordan Henderson will return to training tomorrow following a heel injury but this game comes too soon while Joel Matip is also short of match fitness so is unlikely to start having recently recovered from an ankle injury.

Southampton will be without Jose Fonte as Puel has decided to leave the centre-back out of the squad after he submitted a transfer request last week.

Sofiane Boufal has been forced to pull out of the African Cup of Nations after suffering a knee injury so he’s out along with Charlie Austin, Matt Targett and Alex McCarthy.

Likely Line-Ups

Predicted Score

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: The Saints are in a sticky patch and it’s certainly not the kind of form Puel will have wanted to be in going in to a cup semi final. They are always capable of producing results against top sides, especially at home, but I think Liverpool are going to edge this one. Klopp is the master of making it to finals and he’ll put a foot in Wembley with a win tonight.

Betting Tips

Liverpool are the 13/10 favourites to win the game but we can get you enhanced odds of 12/1 on a Reds win – just click here to take advantage of these incredible odds. Here are some other bets I like the look of:

• Both teams to score at: 5/6 – a £10 bet would return £18.30
• Exact score of 2-1 Liverpool at: 17/2 – a £10 bet would return £95
• Origi to score first in a 2-1 Liverpool win at: 28/1 – a £10 bet would return £290