Southampton vs Liverpool 06/04/19

6 April 2019

Still battling to avoid relegation, Southampton welcome the Premier League title contenders Liverpool to St. Mary’s Stadium obliged to make something out of this showdown.

Although the hosts face another disappointing Premier League campaign, they seem to be on their way of preserving the top-flight status for another year, as they sit five points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff City. The Saints go into this encounter off the back of back-to-back PL wins that have seen them beating their rivals by the narrow one-goal margin. Notably improved at home in 2019, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s players have picked up ten points from five PL home clashes (W3, D1, L1), scoring exactly two goals in all three of their wins at St. Mary’s Stadium after the Christmas break. Still, Southampton’s biggest issue ahead of this meeting is their defensive woes – one clean sheet in 11 of their previous home games across all competitions.

The visitors stake their claim to the Premier League title as they sit one point below top-placed Manchester City with six league fixtures left to go. Not only their only PL defeat has arrived away from home, but the Reds’s struggling on the road has seen them played out three straight PL road draws before halting a frustrating run with a 2-1 win over Fulham. Having failed to find the net in the first half on four of their previous six PL road trips, Liverpool’s problems in the final third away from Anfield continues. Far more dangerous in the second half, the Merseysiders have bagged 65% of their away goals after the half-time break. Along with Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp’s men have shipped fewest goals on the road of all PL sides (9), keeping a clean sheet in eight of 16 PL away fixtures.