Despite the wave between Liverpool and Southampton this season, Arne Slot wants his players to treat their Premier League -similar play as the first of “Three Finals” this week.
Liverpool plays Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Last-16 second stage on Tuesday before he was confronted with Newcastle United next Sunday in the EFL Cup final in Wembley, because they offer to win their first trophy.
Before that, however, they have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 16 points with a victory over Southampton on Saturday, where Arsenal only plays on Sunday.
Liverpool took an impressive 1-0 win over PSG in the first stage on Wednesday, and although Slot admitted that this could influence his players, he was convinced that they would be ready.
“It is definitely something you take into account, because you can only look at the data and probably just as much as some other games,” said Slot.
“I have to convince my players that we play three finals, as I said a few times now. A week to look forward to every Liverpool fan, and I know that the final is there and that everyone is already talking to me about the atmosphere on a Champions League evening.
“But I hope, I hope, I really hope that our fans will be the hardest [on Saturday]. “
In the meantime, Southampton is on the other side of the table just nine points, 13 in 17th place Wolven.
The saints have only won one of their last 17 Premier League matches and lost each of the last three, which includes back-to-back 4-0 defeats to Brighton and Chelsea.
In recent weeks there have been rumors that Ivan Juric may not be the Southampton boss after this season, but after figuring those rumors, he acknowledged that they needed a big improvement to give themselves a chance.
When asked what he expects from the last 11 games, he said: “That we are much better than in the past two games.
“[It was a] Really a bad game against Chelsea, even though we have done such good things. I don't want to repeat the Brighton game – I think that's the worst game I coached. “
Next: we organize Southampton on Anfield #livsou pic.twitter.com/yuc5geemuj
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 7, 2025
Players to watch
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah has scored or helped a goal in 12 of the 13 Premier League matches of Liverpool in Anfield this season, including each of his last 11 in a row since the only competition of the Reds so far against the season against Nottingham Forest in September.
Only two different players have ever had a longer series of target involvement in home games within a single Premier League season: Alan Shearer twice (13 in 1995-96, 15 in 1996-97) and Thierry Henry (12 in 2002-03).
Southampton – Paul Onuachu
Only Jean-Philippe Mateta (64) and Jorgen Strand Larsen (58) have tried more hold-ups in the Premier League this season than Paul Onuachu (44).
Indeed, 31 of Onuachus came in 2025, most player in the competition since the turn of the year.
Match prediction: Liverpool Win
Liverpool has won 11 of their last 13 Premier League matches against Southampton, with exceptions such as a loss of 1-0 in January 2021 and a 4-4 draw in May 2023, both in St Mary's Stadium.
Liverpool won 3-2 against Southampton in the inverted fixture with the Reds Top and Saints Bottom of the Table. This will be the fourth time in the history of Premier League, both meetings between two parties have been the top and bottom in the division.
There are indeed 58 points between Liverpool (67) and Southampton (nine) that come in this competition. It is the biggest difference in points between two parties that have been in a Premier League meeting since July 2020 when Liverpool (86) Aston Villa (27) beat 2-0 in Anfield (59).
The side of Slot is unbeaten in each of their last 24 Premier League matches (W17 D7). There is only one opportunity that a team with an undefeated run of 24+ ends through the bottom of the table, where Manchester United loses against Wolves in February 2011 while on a streak of 29 games.
Southampton is Winless in their last nine Premier League matches against Liverpool (D2 L7) and lose their last six visits to Anfield due to a total score of 19-1.
Opta wins probability
Liverpool – 78.9%
Drawing – 12.5%
Southampton – 8.6%
Comments