Quick Facts

Date: 05. Apr 2019

Kick-off Time: 20:00 (UK Time)

Referee: Paul Tierney, England

Avg. Ref Stats (per game): 0.15 Red Cards 3.26 Yellow Cards

Location: Southampton, England

Venue: St. Mary's Stadium

Capacity: 32,505

Two sides with contrasting fortunes this term meet on Friday Night Football when Southampton hosts a title chasing Liverpool side. Liverpool are chasing their fast Premier League title in 29 years while the Saints are just 5 points off the drop zone. This is a match that could define how the season of either team pans out when the campaign ends in May.

After a luck escape against Spurs where Jurgen Klopp's side left it late to score the winning goal via an own goal, they simply can't afford a slip up here. Any points dropped between now and the end of the season will potentially see Liverpool gift wrap and deliver the title to defending champions City. City are already in the driving seat in this title race having played one game race. That game is against fierce city rivals Manchester United whome they play after facing Tottenham thrice in the next fortnight.

Like I projected earlier, I still expect Huddersfield, Fulham and Cardiff to drop but the Bluebird still have a chance, however narrow and involving lots of permutations, of surviving.

With Danny Ings ruled out, he is on a season-long loan and isn't eligible to play against his parent club, it will be interesting to see if the hosts stick to the 4-2-2-2 formation the deployed in their last game or change to 3-4-3.

Liverpool have a clean bill of health and could see as many as 3 Ex-Southampton players feature on their lineup tonight should Adam Lallana get the nod to start in midfield. Van Dijk is expected to start after coming through unscathed despite a scare late in the Spurs game where he seemed to have been on the receiving end of a heavy boot. Fabinho is expected to start too after an impressive cameo against Spurs.

A win here is crucial, not only to Liverpool's title hopes but also to build moment ahead of their Champions League quarterfinals first leg clash against Portuguese side FC Porto. And I am expecting nothing less either. I am backing Liverpool to win at 1.42

Goodluck to you all.