Liverpool’s hopes of a top-four finish this season in Premier League football rests on the four games remaining for the soon to be dethroned top-flight champions.
On Saturday Jurgen Klopp’s men play hosts to Southampton in what is surely a must-win game for the Merseysiders who are four points adrift of the fourth-placed Chelsea.
With the west London giants on the road to the runaway leaders Manchester City this weekend, Liverpool have a chance to close the gap on the Champions League finalists who are due a tough outing away from home at the Etihad Stadium.
The Reds had their last Premier League fixture called off with the high-billed North-West derby at Old Trafford being subject to postponement following the United fanbase storming the venue amid their increasing protests against the Glazers family.
Klopp’s side have desperate ground to gain in what is left of a campaign that has been misfiring on all fronts for the Anfield outfit, with injuries to star first-teamers, coupled with a drastic slump in form, meaning that last season’s champions are by no means secure of their Champions League participation in the forthcoming season.
Recent form suggests that Liverpool would find it difficult to stage an otherwise comfortable win over the visitors Southampton come Saturday on Merseyside with the hosts having secured just a sole victory across their last five outings in all competitions.
Southampton too have endured a miserable run of recent form in top-flight action but the Saints are ensured of their survival in the season to come and would hope to cause a major upset at Anfield over the weekend against an under-fire Reds side.
It remains Liverpool’s game to lose and should an underperforming bunch of star players at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal turn up at their usual best, the hosts would be in the running to secure all three points from their home fixture.
WHEN & WHERE?
Turning our attention to #LIVSOU 👊 pic.twitter.com/dodvFniQdQ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 5, 2021
Date: Saturday 8 May
Time: 7:15 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Nat Phillips has returned to the fold at Anfield after missing out over the past couple of weeks with a minor hamstring issue and his inclusion into the starting eleven should mean Fabinho being utilised in his holding midfield role.
There are no fresh injury concerns for a Liverpool side that last played nearly a fortnight back in the 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle United.
Skipper Jordan Henderson remains an absentee for now despite the 30-year-old having engaged in running drills at the club’s training facility meaning a return to on-field action could soon be on the cards.
KEY BATTLE
Mohammad Salah vs Che Adams
Salah is one of the very few Liverpool stars that has enjoyed a great campaign on a personal level despite the Merseyside club enduring a forgettable one on all accounts.
With the Egyptian having found the 20-goal tally once again into his fourth season at Anfield, he remains the man to watch out for as his attacking brilliance becomes ever so important for the Champions League-chasing Liverpool side.
For a Danny Ings-less Southampton outfit, Che Adams will shoulder the burden of responsibilities in the final third of the pitch and the young forward could prove to be a handful for the Ozan Kabak-Nat Phillips pairing if not kept in check.
MATCH PREDICTION
We expect Liverpool to return to some much-needed winning ways and against a misfiring Southampton side, Jurgen Klopp’s men are backed to do the job on their own patch.
Our prediction for the weekend showdown at Anfield is Liverpool 3-0 Southampton.
