Southampton manager Claude Puel is under pressure, but could restore some confidence is he continues the club’s trend against Liverpool.
Southampton travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, in a game that sees them underdogs but may result in a positive result given their form in away games and against the Merseysiders.
It’s a long-running joke about Liverpool poaching the best Southampton players each season, but the Saints have had the last laugh when looking at their one-sided head-to-head record in the Premier League.
Recent form gives Southampton the edge
Home side Liverpool are currently third in the Premier League table with 69 points from 35 games, coming off the back of three wins from their last four outings. The Reds, however, have struggled at home of late, picking up just one point at Anfield in the last eight weeks. Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in 2017 in their own backyard, and a travel-happy Southampton side could well take advantage as a result.
Claude Puel’s Southampton find themselves ninth in the division with 41 points from 33 games, having won two and drawn two of their last half a dozen outings. The Saints have been strong on the road, boasting three wins from their last five away games, and have picked up impressive results to top-eight sides– drawing with Manchester City and Liverpool while beating Everton and West Bromwich Albion. The visitors also have a good head-to-head record with Liverpool.
Southampton have been a thorn in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side
Since Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager of Liverpool, he’s failed to win against Southampton in the Premier League. It’s also worth noting Southampton have won four and draw n two of their last 10 league meetings overall which shows they’ve long been a bogey team.
Head-to-head record since Klopp’s arrival at Anfield
(25/10/15) Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
(20/3/16) Southampton 3-2 Liverpool
(19/11/16) Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool have managed only one win at Anfield against Southampton in the Premier League since 2012 so Sunday’s game is no foregone conclusion. Puel is still fighting for his own future so his players won’t let up despite little other than pride to play for, and victory could see Liverpool at great risk of missing out on the Champions League for next season.
Should they lose to Southampton this weekend, Liverpool can at best finish with 75 points, a tally that could be matched or surpassed by Manchester City (4th with 66 points from 34 games), Manchester United (5th with 65 points from 34 games) and Arsenal (6th with 60 points from 33 games). Southampton are 4/1 to win against Liverpool in Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash.
Can the Saints pull off another shock against Jurgen Klopp’s men?
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