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Preview: League Cup action for Liverpool against Southampton

Preview: League Cup action for Liverpool against Southampton

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Liverpool are looking to extend their 100% record into a third competition this term as they host Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening. The 2024/25 beaten finalists will be hoping for another good run in this competition while giving an opportunity to squad players to pick up minutes. 

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Liverpool made it six wins from six across all competitions on Saturday afternoon as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby. The Reds have a five point lead at the summit of the Premier League and have the highest FotMob rating in the English top-flight (7.13). 

Arne Slot’s side are averaging the most goals in the league (2.2) and have the highest possession average (63%). 

The Premier League champions are focused on retaining their crown while challenging for the Champions League but the Carabao Cup could prove to be valuable to this squad as it allows Slot to give players some much needed minutes. 

Southampton, meanwhile, are adapting to life in England’s second tier under a new manager in Will Still. 

The Saints have just one win in the Championship, that arrived in the season opener against Wrexham, and find themselves 19th. In fact, only four teams have a lower FotMob rating (6.7) this term. 

Recent form 

For Liverpool, it’s been a results based season so far. Performances haven’t been great but they’ve managed to eke out a win in all six of their outings. The Reds tend to start well, take a commanding lead and then allow the opposition back into it. 

Slot’s side have given up a 2-0 lead on three occasions already and were almost pegged back by Everton on Saturday, eventually doing enough to see out the win. With squad players getting a chance on Tuesday, expect a more focused showing. 

The Saints are currently winless in three and have failed to win four of their last five across all competitions. Without wins over Northampton and Norwich in the Carabao Cup, their season would look a lot worse. 

However, performances have been better than results suggest. For example, Still’s side rank second for Expected Goals (11.5) but have found the back of the net on just seven occasions. With better finishing, the narrative around their season would be completely different. Perhaps a win at Anfield would be a much needed confidence boost.

xG leaders in the Championship

Key Players 

It’s hard to single out key players when the starting XIs are unknown. We know that Liverpool are going to make wholesale changes to their team with Slot looking to give key players a rest. Still might see this game as a chance to give his first-team an opportunity to impress. Alternatively, he might want to focus on the Championship, with results needing to improve ASAP, meaning players are rested. 

However, if Ryan Manning starts for the Saints, he’ll be key. The left-back is currently the team’s leading scorer in the league and he’s started brightly under the new regime at St Mary’s. 

Team News

Following the derby on Saturday afternoon, Slot confirmed he would be resting five of the key first-teamers for the Reds. 

“The ones that played three times 90 [minutes] are Virgil [Van Dijk], Ibou [Konate], Mo [Salah], Ryan [Gravenberch] and Dom [Szoboszlai] – the ones that are used to this intensity and this level. And again they showed up really good. I can tell you now you won’t be seeing them on Tuesday.”

So we’re expecting to see a completely different Liverpool team. Giorgio Mamardashvili might get the nod in goal and Giovanni Leoni could get a start for 2023/24 Carabao Cup winners at centre-back. Expect to see Rio Ngumoha in attack too. 

For Southampton, everything is a bit of an unknown. All we do know, right now, is that Samuel Edozie and Welington are both ruled out with injuries.

Prediction 

Liverpool are perfect this season and I expect their six wins from six to turn into seven wins from seven. It might not be as straightforward as some expect though and a sixth odd goal victory could be on the cards. We’re going with a 2-1 win for the hosts. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Carabao Cup with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: League Cup action for Liverpool against Southampton

Liverpool are looking to extend their 100% record into a third competition this term as they host Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening. The 2024/25 beaten finalists will be hoping for another good run in this competition while giving an opportunity to squad players to pick up minutes. 

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Liverpool made it six wins from six across all competitions on Saturday afternoon as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby. The Reds have a five point lead at the summit of the Premier League and have the highest FotMob rating in the English top-flight (7.13). 

Arne Slot’s side are averaging the most goals in the league (2.2) and have the highest possession average (63%). 

The Premier League champions are focused on retaining their crown while challenging for the Champions League but the Carabao Cup could prove to be valuable to this squad as it allows Slot to give players some much needed minutes. 

Southampton, meanwhile, are adapting to life in England’s second tier under a new manager in Will Still. 

The Saints have just one win in the Championship, that arrived in the season opener against Wrexham, and find themselves 19th. In fact, only four teams have a lower FotMob rating (6.7) this term. 

Recent form 

For Liverpool, it’s been a results based season so far. Performances haven’t been great but they’ve managed to eke out a win in all six of their outings. The Reds tend to start well, take a commanding lead and then allow the opposition back into it. 

Slot’s side have given up a 2-0 lead on three occasions already and were almost pegged back by Everton on Saturday, eventually doing enough to see out the win. With squad players getting a chance on Tuesday, expect a more focused showing. 

The Saints are currently winless in three and have failed to win four of their last five across all competitions. Without wins over Northampton and Norwich in the Carabao Cup, their season would look a lot worse. 

However, performances have been better than results suggest. For example, Still’s side rank second for Expected Goals (11.5) but have found the back of the net on just seven occasions. With better finishing, the narrative around their season would be completely different. Perhaps a win at Anfield would be a much needed confidence boost.

xG leaders in the Championship

Key Players 

It’s hard to single out key players when the starting XIs are unknown. We know that Liverpool are going to make wholesale changes to their team with Slot looking to give key players a rest. Still might see this game as a chance to give his first-team an opportunity to impress. Alternatively, he might want to focus on the Championship, with results needing to improve ASAP, meaning players are rested. 

However, if Ryan Manning starts for the Saints, he’ll be key. The left-back is currently the team’s leading scorer in the league and he’s started brightly under the new regime at St Mary’s. 

Team News

Following the derby on Saturday afternoon, Slot confirmed he would be resting five of the key first-teamers for the Reds. 

“The ones that played three times 90 [minutes] are Virgil [Van Dijk], Ibou [Konate], Mo [Salah], Ryan [Gravenberch] and Dom [Szoboszlai] – the ones that are used to this intensity and this level. And again they showed up really good. I can tell you now you won’t be seeing them on Tuesday.”

So we’re expecting to see a completely different Liverpool team. Giorgio Mamardashvili might get the nod in goal and Giovanni Leoni could get a start for 2023/24 Carabao Cup winners at centre-back. Expect to see Rio Ngumoha in attack too. 

For Southampton, everything is a bit of an unknown. All we do know, right now, is that Samuel Edozie and Welington are both ruled out with injuries.

Prediction 

Liverpool are perfect this season and I expect their six wins from six to turn into seven wins from seven. It might not be as straightforward as some expect though and a sixth odd goal victory could be on the cards. We’re going with a 2-1 win for the hosts. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Carabao Cup with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.