Liverpool are again in motion as soon as once more on Wednesday night, welcoming Championship aspect Southampton to Anfield for an FA Cup fifth spherical conflict.
Liverpool vs. Southampton
FA Cup Fifth Spherical | AnfieldFebruary 28, 2024 | 8pm (GMT)
The Reds are nonetheless on cloud 9 after Sunday’s astonishing League Cup win, as Jurgen Klopp added one more trophy to his assortment.
It’s Southampton up subsequent for Liverpool, with a spot within the FA Cup quarter-finals up for grabs, however it’s a recreation that arrives at a nasty time for either side.
Right here’s all it is advisable to know forward of the match.
1. Reds on the lookout for extra home cup glory
What Liverpool achieved final weekend was particular, with damage woes and VAR controversy not stopping them from a well-known trophy win.
It retains the Reds’ hopes of successful an unprecedented quadruple alive, with consideration now turning to the FA Cup this week.
In all honesty, that is now backside of Liverpool’s listing of priorities, and Klopp finds himself able the place he might must take a threat with workforce choice.
On the plus aspect, their opponents aren’t precisely primed for FA Cup obligation both…
2. How are Southampton faring this season?
Southampton suffered relegation from the Premier League final season, however they’ve made a very good fist of creating a speedy return on the first try.
Russell Martin’s aspect at the moment sit fourth within the Championship desk, though three defeats of their final 4 league video games recommend they’re on the slide.
Very like Liverpool, accidents have began to harm Saints, with key males resembling Ross Stewart, Juan Larios and Che Adams both nonetheless out or lacking motion lately.
Promotion takes priority for Martin and his gamers and this match will not be good timing for them, with the supervisor admitting as a lot:
“We might do with out that proper now if I’m being trustworthy, However, we can have 5,000 supporters going there who’ve been superb on the highway this season.
“We’d like to verify we go there and provides a very good account of ourselves and make it worthwhile for these individuals.”
3. Who’s out injured for Liverpool?
Extremely, Liverpool suffered but extra damage woes within the win over Chelsea, with the health curse changing into laughable at this level.
Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off after a poor sort out by Moises Caicedo, and he now appears set for a spell on the sidelines with ankle ligament injury – although Klopp conceded it “might’ve been a lot worse.”
The Dutchman joins a heap of absent gamers, together with Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota, amongst others.
Wataru Endo is a doubt after choosing up a knock in opposition to Chelsea, and Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are all “contact and go” to be obtainable, following some pretty vigorous celebrations at Wembley!
Klopp has additionally admitted that Thiago won’t return this season – he might have performed his ultimate recreation for Liverpool – however Stefan Bajcetic is pain-free and slowly edging in direction of a comeback.
4. Attainable Liverpool beginning XI
Predicting Klopp’s beginning XI isn’t simple, however this one feels significantly arduous, given the toll Sunday’s recreation can have taken.
It will be an enormous shock if sure senior figures have been picked, together with Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Luis Diaz, with Klopp having to play a number of children.
Caoimhin Kelleher will proceed in aim after extra League Cup ultimate heroics, whereas Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez might begin, too.
Alexis Mac Allister might play after solely that includes for 87 minutes at Wembley, whereas weekend heroes Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns might all function.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, McConnell, Clark; Gordon, Danns, Gakpo
5. Gamers to look at for Saints
Southampton misplaced a sizzling of key gamers once they have been relegated final Might, together with James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia, however there are nonetheless people who can bother Liverpool.
Adam Armstrong has arguably been the decide of his aspect’s gamers this season, scoring 16 objectives and registering 11 assists within the Championship, including finish product to his searing tempo.
Adams is again from damage and is more likely to function prominently at Anfield, scoring as soon as in opposition to the Reds up to now.
Saints did nicely to maintain maintain of Kyle Walker-Peters final yr, with the full-back able to enjoying within the Premier League, providing defensive solidity and attacking high quality.
Stuart Armstrong can also be an skilled head in the midst of the park, whereas Jan Bednarek stays a key determine on the coronary heart of the defence.
Former Newcastle and Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser is out injured.
6. A parade, you say? Klopp might be there!
Talking to the media on Tuesday, Klopp admitted he would like to be a part of one other parade on the finish of the season:
“That’s the one half this isn’t so cool, that it might be seen as [a farewell], I don’t assume that is smart.
“However apart from that, I’m the largest supporter of trophy parades. I don’t resolve that, individuals could be shocked, and most of these issues must be ready from totally different factors of view.
“But when there’s a parade, I might be on the bus, little question about that!”
How emotional is that going to be, assuming it occurs!
7. Southampton’s report at Anfield
Southampton have discovered life powerful at Anfield in recent times, with their final victory there coming within the League Cup semi-final second leg in 2017.
Since then, Liverpool have received six of the seven conferences with Saints, all of which got here within the Premier League.
The combination rating in that point was 19-1 to the Reds, with Southampton‘s solely profitable end result a goalless draw late within the 2016/17 season, when James Milner had a penalty saved.
A sure Van Dijk was even powerless to do something in a 3-0 win for Liverpool in 2017/18, simply earlier than his transfer north.
The final assembly between the Reds and Saints was on the ultimate day of final season, as the 2 groups shared a 4-4 draw at St Mary’s, in what was Roberto Firmino‘s last-ever recreation for the membership.
8. Did You Know?
Liverpool have been a pleasure to look at ever since Klopp arrived in 2015, with among the soccer on present unrivalled throughout Europe.
The Reds have now scored 994 objectives underneath the German, highlighting their free-flowing brilliance, as they shut in on the large 1000-goal landmark.
The query is: when will they attain that milestone?
Wednesday’s match definitely acts as a very good probability so as to add to their tally, regardless of the accidents, and the identical applies to the journeys to Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague arising.
If not, how about that a thousandth aim being a Salah stunner in entrance of the Kop in opposition to Man Metropolis subsequent month!
9. Craig Pawson underneath the highlight
Craig Pawson will referee Wednesday’s recreation, as he appears to fare higher than Chris Kavanagh did at Wembley.
It’s honest to say Kavanagh received’t be receiving a Christmas card from Klopp later this yr!
This may solely be the second Liverpool recreation that Pawson has taken cost of this season – the opposite being the 2-0 win at house to Everton within the Premier League.
That match noticed him ship off Ashley Younger for 2 yellow playing cards earlier than half-time, in addition to award the Reds a penalty within the second half.
10. Observe the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Southampton is stay on ITV One from 7.30pm (UK) on Wednesday, with kickoff at 8pm.
The draw for the subsequent spherical additionally takes place earlier than kickoff at Anfield so one to keep watch over!
As a substitute, Henry Jackson might be in control of TIA’s stay weblog matchday from 7.15pm, offering common, biased, updates from Anfield.
Hold that quadruple dream alive, Reds!
