Premier League table toppers Liverpool host Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton in the FA Cup on Wednesday – but when did Southampton last win at Anfield?
It’s no mean feat for any team besides Liverpool to win at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten at home this season, last losing on home turf against La Liga giants Real Madrid in the Champions League in February 2023.
Their only other defeat at Anfield last campaign came at the hands of Leeds United in the Premier League. Liverpool have lost just twice at home in their past 53 matches in all competitions.
The task facing Russell Martin’s Southampton is therefore immense. The Saints are currently fourth in the Championship, having slipped out of the automatic promotion places with recent defeats to Millwall, Bristol City and Hull.
But before that, Southampton had gone on a club-record 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions. And with Liverpool’s extensive injury list, there will be few better times to try and beat them at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has already spoken openly about how short of bodies he is ahead of the fixture, and is expected to rely on several youngsters.
🗣️ Jurgen Klopp on #SaintsFC game: “We don't have a team right now for Wednesday. The guys who came on can maybe play again, the rest will get treatment on Monday”
"I love this country to bits, but the schedule is not made for winning a lot. We will see the price we have to pay,… pic.twitter.com/x6pUrdWjnC
— Saints Socialite (@SaintsSocialite) February 25, 2024
Liverpool Vs Southampton Head-to-Head Record
But history is still firmly with Klopp’s men. The two sides have met 109 times in their history, making the Saints Liverpool’s ninth-most common opponent.
Of those games, Liverpool have won 57 to Southampton’s 29, with 23 draws. The top scorer in the fixture is Reds legend, Ian Rush, with 13.
Southampton’s leading goal scorer against Liverpool is their own icon, Matt Le Tissier, who netted seven times in this fixture during his long career with the Saints.
Liverpool’s biggest win over Southampton was a 7-1 thrashing in the Premier League in 1999. For Southampton, their biggest wins were 4-1 victories, which they managed in 1960 and again in 1989.
In recent times, Liverpool have been particularly dominant, winning ten of the past 12 meetings.
Their only defeat during this period was a 1-0 loss at St Mary’s in January 2021, with former Reds striker Danny Ings scoring the winner for Southampton.
On this day in 2021, Southampton beat Liverpool 1-0.
A clever set-piece, executed to perfection by JWP and Ings.
This result reduced Ralph Hasenhüttl to tears, such was the level of his side’s performance vs the then reigning champions #SaintsFCpic.twitter.com/y78YiLNw4g
— Saints Analysis (@saints_analysis) January 4, 2023
The result was of particular importance to then Saints boss, Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Austrian had never beaten Jurgen Klopp as a manager, after years of trying in both the Bundesliga and Premier League.
He collapsed to his knees in tears at full time, with the emotion of such a hard-fought victory overwhelming him.
When Did Southampton Last Win At Anfield?
But while wins at St Mary’s have been rare, Southampton’s record away to Liverpool is even worse.
The last Southampton win at Anfield came in January 2017, with Shane Long’s late goal enough to seal a 1-0 victory in the League Cup semi-final second leg.
Day 7:
Shane Long 🇮🇪 – Liverpool vs #SaintsFC – 25/01/2017pic.twitter.com/ZBo3QHkAKZ
— ً (@sfcdan_) December 9, 2020
But such results have always been hard to come by. Since that game, Liverpool have won all but one of the seven subsequent fixtures, including the past six in a row.
At Anfield, Southampton have won just seven times in 57 attempts, with Liverpool winning 39.
Liverpool vs Southampton Key Factors
With Liverpool missing so many key players, Klopp is likely to have to put out a very inexperienced team on Wednesday night.
As it stands, Liverpool are expected to be missing Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Stefan Bajcetic.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez may only be fit enough for the bench. Dominik Szoboszlai also faces a race to be available after spending several weeks out with a hamstring problem.
Southampton are themselves missing Ryan Fraser, with the on-loan Newcastle winger out for another few weeks.
Another loanee, Bournemouth’s David Brooks is cup tied after representing the Cherries in the competition already this season.
While the odds suggest Liverpool are still heavy favourites for Wednesday’s match, Klopp will be praying on some positive late fitness tests for several crucial players.
If Southampton are to pick up only their eighth ever win at Anfield, they will have few better opportunities than this.
Liverpool vs Southampton FA Cup Match Info
- ⏱ Wednesday 28th February 2024
- ⚽️ Kick-Off: 20:00
- 🏟 Venue: Anfield Stadium
- 📈 Odds: Liverpool: 10/17 | Draw: 15/4 | Southampton: 24/5
Liverpool vs Southampton Matches (Last Five)
28 May 2023: Southampton v Liverpool (4-4) Premier League
12 Nov 2022: Liverpool v Southampton (3-1) Premier League
17 May 2022: Southampton v Liverpool (1-2) Premier League
27 Nov 2021: Liverpool v Southampton (4-0) Premier League
08 May 2021: Liverpool v Southampton (2-0) Premier League
Liverpool Wins: 4 | Southampton wins: 0 | Draws: 1
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