MY ACCOUNT
Liverpool can take the title race to the final day of the season with victory at Southampton on Tuesday.
After defending champions Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham on Sunday, the Reds know they can keep their title and quadruple dreams alive if they see off Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side at St Mary’s.
Liverpool would then still need to win their final game on Sunday at home to Wolves while hoping former skipper Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa side also get something at the Etihad in order for them to be crowned champions as the title scrap goes into the final week.
City remain big favourites to come out on top overall but Jurgen Klopp will demand his FA Cup winners keep up the pressure by claiming all three points on the south coast.
Team news
Key duo Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are both doubtful for Liverpool after they came off in the FA Cup final win over Chelsea with what looked like minor muscle strains.
Fabinho remains out with a hamstring injury and Klopp is likely to freshen up his side with the likes of Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Curtis Jones and Roberto Firmino among those pushing to start.
Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster and midfielder Stuart Armstrong will both be assessed as they are carrying back and knee injuries respectively.
Alex McCarthy could start in goal for Saints if Forster is ruled out while Tino Livramento is unavailable following recent knee surgery.
The stats
Southampton are destined for a bottom-half finish following a disappointing run of results in recent weeks.
Hasenhuttl’s side have lost seven of their last 10 games and four of their last five at home, with the only bright spot at St Mary’s being a 1-0 win over Arsenal last month.
Liverpool have won 14 of their last 16 league games to keep their title challenge going, with the only slip-ups coming at City in a 2-2 draw last month and at home to Tottenham 10 days ago when they were held 1-1.
Southampton did beat the Reds 1-0 in this corresponding fixture last term, thanks to a goal from the now-departed Danny Ings, but that was their only success in 10 meetings overall against Liverpool, who had won 2-0, 3-1 and 2-1 at St Mary’s in the three previous campaigns.
Predictions
After City’s slip-up, Liverpool know a victory is a must to give themselves a chance of the title on the final day and anything other than an away win would be a big surprise against the out-of-form Southampton.
Klopp’s side have had a relentless schedule, though, and looked tired in extra-time at Wembley so a fresh Saints, who haven’t played since May 7, could pose some problems.
Liverpool were made to work hard for their last two wins on the road at Newcastle and Aston Villa, when they won 1-0 and 2-1 respectively, and it could be a similar outcome on Tuesday.
