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Liverpool host Southampton on Saturday night, with the home side knowing they must take advantage of Leicester City’s Friday night slip-up if they want to stay in the running for a top-four finish.
The Foxes’ 4-2 defeat to Newcastle means Jurgen Klopp’s side can go six points behind Leicester with a game in hand, if they can find a route to victory against Saints here.
Winning games on home soil has been a real issue for Liverpool however, with just one league triumph at Anfield since mid-December – with stoppage-time points dropped against Newcastle last time out being a case in point.
Last season’s champions must become more ruthless in the final weeks of the campaign if they want to keep the pressure on the teams above them, while Southampton could also do with a late revival to avoid the year being a real disappointment.
Their FA Cup semi-final exit effectively heralded the end of their season, with just two wins in their last 16 Premier League games leaving them floundering in the bottom half of the table. Follow our live coverage of Liverpool against Southampton below.
Sadio Mane restarts the game for Liverpool
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
Kick off: Teh second half gets underway with no changes from either side.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 21:18
Michael Jones8 May 2021 21:09
Mo Salah’s assist for Sadio Mané’s header was the first time the duo have combined for a goal in the Premier League this season, last doing so vs Crystal Palace in June 2020.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 21:06
Liverpool lead at the break
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
45+1 mins: Liverpool go into half time with a slender one-goal lead over Southampton. The Saints have shown enough intent to force a goal but a lack of quality in the final third is missing. Still with recent results going against them Liverpool won’t feel comfrotable until they see out this game.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 21:02
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
39 mins: A bit of retaliation for Southampton as Theo Walcott curls a pass into Nathan Redmond. He takes a wild shot but can’t find the target.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 20:57
Massive chance for Salah!
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
36 mins: Mo Salah has a huge chance to double Liverpool’s lead but he holds onto the ball too long. A nice cross field pass from Diogo Jota drops over the head of Jack Stephens and is taken up by Salah. He takes it into the box and is met by Fraser Forster. Salah tries to weave his way into space which gives Southampton time to cover the goal and by the time Salah shoots Vestergaard has gotten across to block the effort.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 20:53
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
34 mins: Liverpool will feel a lot more comfortable after that goal. As it stands they’re moving ahead of Tottenham into sixth, just one point behind West Ham.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 20:50
Mane opens the scoring at Anfield!
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
31 mins: Goal! Mo Salah missed the chance to pick out Sadio Mane in an earlier attack but this time he finds him perfectly. A cross from Robertson on the left comes to Thiago who slips a pass into Salah on the right. Mane stays onside and makes his run into the six-yard box as the cross comes in. He jumps and heads the ball strongly into the back of the net sending Liverpool in front.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 20:47
Alisson rescues Liverpool
Liverpool 0 – 0 Southampton
29 mins: Brilliant from Alisson to deny Che Adams. Nathan Tella is played in behind the Liverpool defence and sprints into the box with the ball. He squares it across to Adams as Alisson sprints out to meet him. He holds his ground at the last minute and Adams can’t work his shot around the goalkeeper who makes a great save.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 20:46
Wijnaldum hits the crossbar!
Liverpool 0 – 0 Southampton
27 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold whips the corner ball into the middle of the box and Gini Wijnaldum rises highest. He meets the cross with a strong header that beats Forster outstretched hand and rattles the off the crossbar.
Michael Jones8 May 2021 20:42
