Liverpool vs Southampton predictions: Comfortable success likely for leaders
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- Liverpool have kept 12 clean sheets in the league this season
- Southampton are winless in their last nine league visits to Anfield
- Recommended bet: Liverpool to win to nil
Liverpool — and specifically goalkeeper Alisson — put in one of their performances of the season against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, holding off an attacking barrage from the French hosts to win 1-0 at the Parc des Princes.
The Reds were outfought for most of the night, allowing PSG 27 shots, including 10 on target, but their defence held firm and Harvey Elliott grabbed an 87th-minute winner to hand them a first-leg advantage.
Despite the win, it was an incredibly draining affair for Arne Slot's men but they have a simpler assignment on Saturday — a home clash with basement boys Southampton.
Saints have been dire all season and are preparing for life back in the Championship given they are 13 points off safety with just 11 games to go in the league.
Team news
The Reds remain without Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton, while Cody Gakpo is a doubt.
Southampton have several doubts heading into the Anfield contest with Adam Lallana, Jan Bednarek, Lesley Ugochukwu and Ryan Fraser all at risk of missing out. Ross Stewart is a confirmed absentee.
The stats
Southampton are on a run of four straight defeats in all competitions, losing their last two league assignments 4-0 against Brighton and Chelsea.
Saints have also failed to win any of their last nine visits to Anfield in the Premier League, losing their last six away games against Liverpool in the league by an aggregate score of 19-1.
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Including their resolute performance against PSG, Liverpool have reeled off three straight clean sheets in all competitions, shutting out Manchester City and Newcastle before their Champions League clash.
Mo Salah has been in sensational form in the Premier League, scoring 25 goals and laying on 17 assists in his 28 league appearances.
Prediction
While this feels like a David vs Goliath situation, Liverpool might not be rampant against Southampton on Saturday given how much the PSG clash will have taken out of them.
The Reds played a lot of the game without the ball, seeing just 29 per cent possession, and lost the shot count 27-2 but against Southampton the dynamic will be much different and Liverpool will expect to dominate and create more chances.
Slot could be tempted to rotate and if his side get ahead early, they are unlikely to press down on the pedal too much.
Therefore, punters may want to swerve backing a big Liverpool win and go for a home win to nil against the struggling Saints.
Liverpool have shut out Manchester City, Newcastle and PSG in their last three games, so they should have few issues keeping tabs on shot-shy Southampton.
Southampton have scored just once in their last four contests, losing back-to-back league fixtures 4-0 against Brighton and Chelsea, and no side has failed to score in more league games than them (12) this season.
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