Latest EPL standings as well as fixtures and results are found below the predictions.
Liverpool head into the final stage of their battle to snatch a top four finish in the English Premier League this Saturday when they host Southampton.
It’s an uphill task for the outgoing EPL champions, whose title defence has collapsed in a heap since the turn of the year.
The Reds start the weekend seventh in the table, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea albeit with a game in hand on all those immediately above them.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are also unbeaten in five, although their late rally may prove futile after back-to-back draws against Leeds and Newcastle punctured their scramble in the standings.
They also have neighbours Everton breathing down their neck below, as Klopp leans on all his charisma in a bid to win back around a fanbase shocked and appalled by the club’s botched bid to join a breakaway European Super League last month.
The outpouring of anger across the board was plain to see at Old Trafford last weekend, as supporters of arch rivals Manchester United stormed the pitch in protest against their own despised owners and their part in the bungled scheme.
Virgil van Dijk continues his long absence from the heart of the Reds’ defence, as do Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
Rookie Nat Phillips should be fit to deputize, while captain Jordan Henderson remains sidelined.
Four into three doesn’t fit up front either, as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota fight it out for starting berths.
Southampton are ready to draw a discreet veil over a campaign that has fallen apart as the season has progressed.
A bright start had Saints fans dreaming of European qualification, only for the wheels to come off leaving them just three places above the relegation zone.
Their ten-point gap to the wrong side of the dotted line, plus a game in hand, should be enough to see them safe at least.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men have won just once in their last six but did seal a decent draw with high flying Leicester at St Mary’s Stadium last time out.
Striker Danny Ings looks set to miss the rest of the season, so won’t line up against his former club.
On loan Takumi Minamino is also barred from facing his parent side, while fellow forward Michael Obafemi is another doubt at the sharp end.
Jannik Vestergaard starts his suspension following his red card against the Foxes, while Oriol Romeu, Ryan Bertrand and Will Smallbone are all crocked.
Liverpool vs Southampton: By the numbers
- Coming into this game, Liverpool has picked up 11 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That’s 2.2 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in an intriguing 3 of those games. Liverpool has scored 8 times in the last 5 fixtures.
- Liverpool has enjoyed playing at home recently, with the side currently unbeaten in 2 games.
- Momentum is really building for Liverpool as they have now gone 5 games without losing. They have won 3 of the last 5 games they have played.
- It’s possible we will see a couple of goals here, with the last 4 games for Liverpool ending with 2 goals or more being scored.
- Liverpool is unbeaten in the last 5 games coming into this fixture against Southampton, having won 3 and drawn 2. They have scored 8 goals in those 5 games.
- In the last 5 matches for Liverpool, 3 of those games has ended with both teams scoring. This season 18 matches (55% of all matches) involving Liverpool has seen BTTS landing.
- It’s likely that Liverpool will score today, as they have netted in the last 5 games coming into this one and have scored 8 goals in the last five games.
- Coming into this game, Southampton has picked up 4 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That’s 0.8 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in an intriguing 4 of those games. Southampton has scored 6 times in the last 5 fixtures.
- It’s possible we will see a couple of goals here, with the last 7 games for Southampton ending with 2 goals or more being scored.
- In the last 5 matches for Southampton, 4 of those games has ended with both teams scoring. This season 16 matches (48% of all matches) involving Southampton has seen BTTS landing.
Liverpool vs Southampton: Prediction
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
Liverpool vs Southampton: EPL starting XI prediction
Probable Liverpool Starting XI: Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nat Phillips, Ozan Kabak, Andy Robertson, Thiago, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
Probable Southampton Starting XI: Alex McCarthy, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Mohammed Salisu, Jack Stephens, Stuart Armstrong, Ibrahima Diallo, James Ward-Prowse, Theo Walcott, Nathan Redmond, Che Adams.
Find all English Premier League predictions, fixtures and results for 7-10 May 2021 here.