Liverpool host Southampton in the FA Cup 5th round at Anfield on February 28. The Reds will be looking for further domestic cup success after defeating Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Final three days prior whilst the Saints will be looking to take advantage of any post-final fatigue and pick up a rare win at Anfield. Here, Last Word on Football looks at the best odds and predicts the outcome of Liverpool vs Southampton.
Predictions and Betting Odds for Liverpool vs Southampton in the FA Cup
🗣️ "No one would expect us to get anything"
Southampton manager Russell Martin has urged his players to brave and cause an upset against Liverpool in the FA Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3g39k8CrrE
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 27, 2024
Liverpool Current Run of Form
Liverpool will be arriving into this game in jubilant mood after securing their first trophy of the campaign in the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea at Wembley. The result kept The Reds’ quadruple hopes alive as they continue to compete on all four fronts.
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Jurgen Klopp’s men have been in good form in 2024, losing just once at Arsenal at the start of February and scoring plenty of goals in that time as well. Since the defeat at the Emirates, Liverpool have won all four games, scoring three against Burnley and four in each of their matches against Brentford and Luton Town. The contest against the
Blues was a rare occasion where the Reds were shot shy with it being just the second time that they haven’t scored after 90 minutes this season.
Klopp will undoubtedly attribute some of that to injuries with his squad short of no less than eleven players at Wembley, six of whom it could be argued would be guaranteed starters for a game of such magnitude.
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Southampton Current Run of Form
Southampton have been having a good campaign under new manager Russell Martin as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League following last year’s relegation.
Form of late has been a bit more problematic however as they have only picking up one win in their last four, away to West Brom on February 16. Prior to the defeat against Bristol City on February 13, Martin’s squad were on an unbeaten run that stretched all the way back to September and ran over the course of 25 matches.
Their most recent results have been back-to-back home defeats to Hull City and Millwall which have just pulled them away from the automatic promotion spots.
Recent Head-to-Head
With the Saints not in England’s top flight this season, the last meetings between the pair came in 2022/23 with the two sides playing out a thrilling 4-4 draw on the final day. It was not a typical result between them but with Southampton’s relegation and Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League already confirmed, it was a free hit for both teams.
Klopp’s team had won all four of the clashes between the sides prior to that with the last defeat in this fixture coming at St. Mary’s in January 2021.
Southampton’s last win at Anfield came in a Carabao Cup game in January 2017 when they beat the Reds 1-0 in the semi-final to help them progress to Wembley.
Liverpool Vs Southampton Prediction
Martin’s side will feel this is the right time to play Liverpool. With them depleted through injuries and coming into the game on the back of a cup final win that saw them play for 120 minutes, it presents a great opportunity for Southampton to pick up a shock win.
Klopp’s charges have coped admirably through their injury problems though and with youngsters James McConnell, Jayden Danns and Bobby Clark all coming off the bench at Wembley and impressing, the German manager will have no qualms about giving them further opportunities in this one as he seeks to give key players ample recovery time.
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The Saints like to play an expansive brand of football so combine that with Liverpool’s usual potency in front of goal as well as the likelihood of a youthful home team and there could be plenty of goals.
This one doesn’t feel like the foregone conclusion many would have thought when the draw was made but the expectation is that the home side will still have enough in this one.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-2 Southampton
Current Odds: Liverpool vs Southampton
Per Bet365
Liverpool: 13/20
Draw: 10/3
Southampton: 15/4
