Liverpool v Southampton preview: team news, match facts, quotes, odds and TV schedule
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ByEurosport
Published 24/01/2017 at 22:18 GMT
Get team news, match facts, quotes, odds and more ahead of the League Cup clash.
Southampton's Nathan Redmond celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
Southampton are on the verge of their first cup final appearance in 13 years... and their first League Cup final in 38 years.
But Liverpool, the club who have bought so many of Southampton's top players over recent seasons, are the team who stand in their way.
Claude Puel's side hold a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg as they travel to Anfield, while the hosts are expected to play a heavily rotated squad - as they have done throughout the competition.
WHEN IS THE MATCH?
Kick off is at 20:00 on Wednesday 25 January.
WHERE IS IT BEING PLAYED?
The match will take place at Anfield. Here's all the info you need about the ground.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
This is a bit of a grudge match for Southampton, and the Saints are on the cusp of an upset. They hold a one-goal lead from the first leg.
CAN I WATCH IT ON TV?
Yes - the match will be televised on Sky Sports in the UK. Here's the schedule.
TEAM NEWS
Joel Matip is available for Liverpool, whereas Southampton's key defender Virgil van Dijk could be missing with an ankle problem.
MANAGER QUOTES
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "We are Liverpool, a really good football-playing side, and we don’t enjoy the job we have to do. It is not as though we are a team at the bottom of the league that has to defend 80 per cent or 90 per cent of the time. In most of our games we are dominant, so we have to enjoy this, even when we don’t come through after five minutes.”
Southampton manager Claude Puel: "It’s an exciting game. It's difficult, of course. We know this team. For the second leg, I would like another good result, with one goal more for example. It will be important to have strong spirit, quality, and to take our chances and to try to do a fantastic job."
MATCH BUZZ
MATCH FACTS
- This is the fifth time Liverpool have gone into a League Cup second leg with a deficit – however, on the last two occasions they have recovered to reach the final, doing so against Crystal Palace in 2000/01 and Sheffield United in 2002/03.
- The Saints are aiming to reach the final of the League Cup for only the second time – in 1978/79 they eliminated Leeds in the semi-finals before losing to Nottingham Forest in the final.
- The Reds have won three of their four home League Cup matches against Southampton, most recently a 3-1 victory in November 2002 with goals from Patrik Berger, El Hadji Diouf and Milan Baros.
- Southampton have won their last three away League Cup matches against top-flight opposition, defeating Arsenal (2014/15 and 2016/17) and Stoke (2014/15); prior to this run, they’d won just two of the previous 27.
- Only Aston Villa (82) and Arsenal (78) have won more home League Cup matches than Liverpool (75).
- Six of the last eight teams to win the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at home by a one-goal margin have been eliminated – only Sunderland in 2013/14 and Spurs in 2014/15 have then reached the final.
- Liverpool haven’t lost back to back League Cup matches since 2005, when they lost to Chelsea in the 2004/05 final followed by a Round 3 defeat to Crystal Palace in October.
- In 53 previous home League Cup matches against top-flight opponents, Liverpool have only failed to score in four.
- The Reds haven’t failed to score in back to back League Cup games since August 1979, when they went five matches without a goal.
- Only Aston Villa (467) have scored more goals in League Cup history than Liverpool (466).
BOOKIES' ODDS
Liverpool 1/2, Draw 18/5, Southampton 6/1 (best odds at the time of writing)
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