Liverpool welcome Southampton to Anfield on Tuesday night as they begin their Carabao Cup campaign.
The sides are familiar opponents, having met three times last season. Liverpool came out on top in all three games, including a quarter-final clash in this very competition, though Southampton did not make life easy despite eventually suffering relegation. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the fixture.
How to watch
Tuesday 23rd September. The third-round tie kicks off at 8pm, with live coverage on both ITV1 and Sky Sports. For supporters watching online, the match will be streamed via ITVX, NOW TV and Sky Go.
Recent Form
Liverpool:
Arne Slot’s men come into this tie on the back of six consecutive victories across all competitions, a run that has lifted confidence around Anfield. The weekend’s derby triumph over Everton was the latest sign of a side clicking into gear, and Liverpool will be determined to maintain momentum.
The Carabao Cup may not rank alongside the Premier League or Champions League in terms of prestige, but Liverpool have a proud history in the competition and Slot has spoken of its importance. He has also made clear, however, that this round will bring significant rotation.
Southampton:
For Southampton, the tie comes at a difficult time. The Saints currently sit 19th in the Championship after a 3–1 defeat at Hull City on Saturday extended their winless run to seven league matches. Their only victory came on the opening weekend of the season, and new head coach Will Still is still searching for a formula to steady the ship.
Still arrived with a strong reputation after his work in France with Reims and Lens, but results so far have not matched the optimism of his appointment. His team has shown flashes of quality, yet confidence remains fragile and consistency elusive.
Team News
Liverpool: Arne Slot starting line-up will look very different from the one that faced Everton. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai will all be rested, while the only absentee through injury remains Stefan Bajcetic, who is still recovering from a hamstring issue.
That opens the door for squad players and academy prospects. Conor Bradley is expected to slot in at right-back, while Curtis Jones should wear the captain’s armband in midfield. Wataru Endo will provide experience alongside him, with Federico Chiesa offering creativity in attack. Alexander Isak, still working towards full match sharpness, could be handed a valuable start up front.
The biggest intrigue lies with the youngsters. Rio Ngumoha, who has already caught the eye in his early senior appearances, is tipped to feature, while teenager Trey Nyoni is also pushing for a place. Several others, including Jayden Danns, Kaide Gordon and Rhys Williams, have been training with the first team and may be among the substitutes.
Southampton: The visitors are dealing with fitness problems. Samuel Edozie will miss the trip to Merseyside with a knock, while Welington is sidelined with an ankle issue. Flynn Downes, absent through illness at the weekend, could return, but Still may look to shuffle his pack regardless after another disappointing result.
Tactically, he has switched between systems since his arrival, though a back three looks the most likely setup at Anfield as he seeks to provide greater defensive stability against a formidable opponent.
Predicted Lineup
Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1):
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Leoni, Gomez, Robertson; Nyoni, Endo; Chiesa, Jones, Ngumoha; Isak.
Predicted Southampton XI (3-5-2):
McCarthy; Edwards, Wood, Stephens; Roerslev, Fraser, Downes, Jander, Manning; Stewart, Archer.
Managers have said:
Arne Slot (Liverpool):
“I would like to welcome Will Still, his staff, players and the Southampton supporters and officials to Anfield. We know Southampton will provide difficult opposition and this expectation has not changed, even though we now occupy different divisions.”
Will Still (Southampton):
“They’re the best team in England, probably one of the best teams in Europe, and we have to go there with the belief that we can play football and that we’re good at doing certain things in our register. We just have to show a bit of personality, a bit of bravery to stand back up, to get back up. I just want us to have a go.”
