Southampton v Liverpool EFL Cup Preview – All the stats, injury update and possible outcome

By: Dehinbo Timothy

After both teams failed to progress at the weekend, in Fa cup 3rd round game, with both teams having to replay their matches, these two teams would battle it out at St Mary’s tonight in EFL Cup Semi final first leg.

The good news for Liverpool fans is that, Philippe Coutinho is set to return against the saints. The Brazil midfielder only returned to full training on Saturday after suffering an ankle injury against Sunderland in November, but Jurgen Klopp has confirmed his availability.

Southampton, who will be without captain Jose Fonte and injured attacker Sofiane Boufal, have reached the last four of the League Cup for the first time since 1987. But they have won just twice since the start of December, while Klopp’s Liverpool are on a seven-match unbeaten run stretching back to their 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth.

The Reds boss rested many of his first-team players for their FA Cup draw at home to Plymouth and may shuffle his pack again on Wednesday with Liverpool set to travel to Manchester United on Nissan Super Sunday.

Claude Puel does not intend to include Fonte, who put in a transfer request last week, until after the transfer window closes and Boufal has pulled out of playing in the African Nations Cup due to a knee injury.

Charlie Austin still out with a  shoulder injury, Matt Targett (hamstring), Cedric Soares (head) and Alex McCarthy (hamstring) all remain sidelined.

Coutinho, should start from the bench for the reds. Loris Karius should continue in goal following his clean sheet against Plymouth. Jordan Henderson will not resume full training until Thursday but centre-back Joel Matip could make the squad as he seeks to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday’s trip to United.

Key Opta stats:
This will be the eighth occasion Southampton have faced Liverpool in the EFL Cup; against no side have they played more in the competition (also Arsenal).

Liverpool have eliminated Southampton in four of their last five EFL Cup ties.

The Saints have reached this stage of the League Cup for the third time in their history and first time since 1986/87, when they met Liverpool.
The only occasion they progressed to the final was in 1978/79, although they eventually lost to Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool have an excellent record in the League Cup. This will be Liverpool’s 17th appearance in the League Cup semi-finals; the most of any side in the competition’s history.

They’ve progressed to the final in five of their last six semi-final appearances.

Southampton and Liverpool have kept three clean sheets so far this season; the joint- most in the League Cup alongside Newcastle.

Liverpool have scored more goals than any other side in this season’s League Cup (12); their highest goal tally in the competition since the 2011/12 edition (14).

Daniel Sturridge is this season’s top-scorer in the League Cup (4), netting a brace against Burton in Round 2 and also versus Spurs in Round 4.

Jurgen Klopp has won seven of his nine League Cup games in charge of Liverpool (W7 D1 L1), and has reached the semi-final for the second time in as many seasons.

Saints have won six of their last seven League Cup games against sides from the same division; their only defeat coming against Liverpool in last season’s quarter-final (1-6).

Only Aston Villa (467) have scored more goals in League Cup history than Liverpool (466).

PREDICTION: SOUTHAMPTON 2-2 LIVERPOOL