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 | Anfield
February 28, 2024 | 8pm (GMT)
The Reds are nonetheless on cloud 9 after Sunday’s astonishing League Cup win, as Jurgen Klopp added yet 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’s worthwhile to know forward of the match.
1. Reds searching for extra home cup glory
What Liverpool achieved final weekend was particular, with harm woes and VAR controversy not stopping them from a well-known trophy win.
It retains the Reds’ hopes of profitable an unprecedented quadruple alive, with consideration now turning to the FA Cup this week.
In all honesty, that is now backside of Liverpool’s checklist of priorities, and Klopp finds himself able the place he could must take a threat with staff choice.
On the plus aspect, their opponents aren’t precisely primed for FA Cup responsibility both…
2. How are Southampton faring this season?
Southampton suffered relegation from the Premier League final season, however they’ve made a superb 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 counsel they’re on the slide.
Very like Liverpool, accidents have began to harm Saints, with key males comparable to 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 isn’t good timing for them, with the supervisor admitting as a lot:
“We may do with out that proper now if I’m being trustworthy, However, we may have 5,000 supporters going there who’ve been wonderful on the street this season.
“We’d like to verify we go there and provides a superb account of ourselves and make it worthwhile for these folks.”
3. Who’s out injured for Liverpool?
Extremely, Liverpool suffered but extra harm woes within the win over Chelsea, with the health curse changing into laughable at this level.
Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off after a poor deal with by Moises Caicedo, and he now seems to be set for a spell on the sidelines with ankle ligament injury – although Klopp conceded it “may’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 towards Chelsea, and Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are all “contact and go” to be accessible, following some pretty full of life celebrations at Wembley!
Klopp has additionally admitted that Thiago won’t return this season – he could have performed his closing 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 is rarely straightforward, however this one feels notably arduous, given the toll Sunday’s recreation may have taken.
It could 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 plenty of kids.
Caoimhin Kelleher will proceed in aim after extra League Cup closing heroics, whereas Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez may begin, too.
Alexis Mac Allister could play after solely that includes for 87 minutes at Wembley, whereas weekend heroes Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns may all function.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, McConnell, Clark; Gordon, Danns, Gakpo
5. Gamers to observe for Saints
Southampton misplaced a scorching of key gamers after they have been relegated final Could, together with James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia, however there are nonetheless people who can hassle Liverpool.
Adam Armstrong has arguably been the decide of his aspect’s gamers this season, scoring 16 targets and registering 11 assists within the Championship, including finish product to his searing tempo.
Adams is again from harm and is more likely to function prominently at Anfield, scoring as soon as towards the Reds prior to now.
Saints did nicely to maintain maintain of Kyle Walker-Peters final yr, with the full-back able to taking part in within the Premier League, providing defensive solidity and attacking high quality.
Stuart Armstrong can 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 will likely 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 could possibly be seen as [a farewell], I don’t assume that is sensible.
“However moreover that, I’m the most important supporter of trophy parades. I don’t resolve that, folks may be shocked, and some of these issues must be ready from totally different factors of view.
“But when there’s a parade, I will likely be on the bus, little question about that!”
How emotional is that going to be, assuming it occurs!
7. Southampton’s file at Anfield
Southampton have discovered life robust 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 gained six of the seven conferences with Saints, all of which got here within the Premier League.
The mixture rating in that point was 19-1 to the Reds, with Southampton‘s solely profitable outcome 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 observe ever since Klopp arrived in 2015, with among the soccer on present unrivalled throughout Europe.
The Reds have now scored 994 targets underneath the German, highlighting their free-flowing brilliance, as they shut in on the massive 1000-goal landmark.
The query is: when will they attain that milestone?
Wednesday’s match definitely acts as a superb likelihood so as to add to their tally, regardless of the accidents, and the identical applies to the journeys to Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague developing.
If not, how about that one thousandth aim being a Salah stunner in entrance of the Kop towards Man Metropolis subsequent month!
9. Craig Pawson underneath the highlight
Craig Pawson will referee Wednesday’s recreation, as he seems to be to fare higher than Chris Kavanagh did at Wembley.
It’s truthful to say Kavanagh gained’t be receiving a Christmas card from Klopp later this yr!
It will 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 regulate!
As a substitute, Henry Jackson will likely be in control of TIA’s stay weblog matchday from 7.15pm, offering common, biased, updates from Anfield.
Hold that quadruple dream alive, Reds! Ideally in regular time, we don’t need to undergo extra-time once more!
