• Liverpool have reached three of the last four EFL Cup finals

• Southampton were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in last term's EFL Cup quarter-finals

• Recommended bet: Liverpool to win & both teams to score

Liverpool have demonstrated their winning mentality with hard-fought victories over Burnley, Atletico Madrid and Everton since the international break and they are hot favourites to beat Southampton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

The Reds lifted the trophy in both 2022 and 2024 before losing 2-1 to Newcastle in last season's final, having eliminated Saints at St Mary's in the quarter-finals.

Saints finished bottom of the Premier League, but competed well in 3-2 and 3-1 defeats to the champions and new manager Will Still is aiming to cause a massive cup upset on Tuesday.

The latest Liverpool vs Southampton odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will rest star men Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate.

Youngsters Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Giovanni Leoni are pushing for starts, along with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and winger Federico Chiesa.

Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes should return to the starting line-up after illness.

Left-back Welington is out injured and winger Samuel Edozie is a doubt after missing Saturday's defeat at Hull.

The stats

Four of Liverpool's first six results this season were victories in which both teams scored and the Reds have won their last five EFL Cup ties at Anfield by 3-1, 5-1, 2-1, 5-1 and 4-0 scorelines.

Now Reds striker Alexander Isak scored against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool during Newcastle's triumphant EFL Cup run last season

Southampton have won only one of their last six matches in all competitions, but have been trailing at half-time in only one of their last seven games.

Both teams have scored in six of Saints' last seven meetings with Liverpool.

The latest Liverpool vs Southampton odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Liverpool's rivals are desperately trying to pick holes in their early-season run of six straight victories in all competitions.

The Reds have certainly not been at their most ruthless, requiring late goals to see off Bournemouth, 10-man Newcastle, Arsenal and Burnley in the Premier League.

Van Dijk scored an injury-time winner against Atleti in the Champions League, after Liverpool had let slip a 2-0 lead, while they had some tense moments against Everton on Saturday before closing out a 2-1 derby victory.

Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round game against Championship Southampton should be less intense and Slot has confirmed that he will rest several key players at Anfield.

The bad news for Saints is that Liverpool's reserves may well include £125m striker Isak, who scored against the Reds for Newcastle in last term's EFL Cup final.

The Swedish star is building up his sharpness after missing pre-season and he can play his part in an entertaining victory over Still's Saints.

Southampton lost 3-2, 2-1 and 3-1 in last term's Premier League and EFL Cup meetings with Liverpool and the Reds again look a good bet to win a game in which both teams score.

Saints have made a stuttering start to their Championship campaign after finishing bottom of the top-flight table in 2024-25.

Their away fixtures have been lively affairs, with a 1-1 draw at ante-post title favourites Ipswich followed by a 3-0 win at Norwich and a 2-2 draw with Watford.

They dominated possession in Saturday's 3-1 loss at Hull and should get on the scoresheet against a Liverpool defence missing Van Dijk and Konate.

Back Liverpool to win & both teams to score, available at 29/20 with LiveScore Bet