Liverpool have outscored Southampton 22-1 across the seven most recent meetings at Anfield

Liverpool can extend their Premier League lead to 16 points on Saturday afternoon when they host bottom of the table Southampton.

With Arsenal not in action until Sunday against Manchester United, the Reds can move further clear of their title rivals with victory over the struggling Saints. Liverpool already have one hand on the trophy but can ill-afford complacency down the stretch.

Liverpool were given their toughest assignment of the season on Wednesday evening as they travelled to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. The French side were utterly dominant throughout a difficult evening for Arne Slot’s side, but Harvey Elliott’s late effort secured a significant win ahead of this Tuesday’s return leg.

Southampton are unlikely to pose even a tenth of the challenge that PSG offered midweek, with Ivan Juric having been unable to rescue their fortunes. The Croatian has lost ten of his 12 matches since taking charge, with the south coast side now sat 13 points from safety. They are yet to reach double digits in the Premier League.

Liverpool have already beaten Southampton twice this season but both St Mary’s Stadium meetings were fiercely-contested. That is perhaps the only silver lining the Saints can take into the weekend’s match-up.

Arne Slot will be tempted to rest players ahead of Tuesday’s visit from PSG, especially given how dismal Southampton have been this season. While he’s unlikely to make wholesale alterations, some peripheral figures could be handed starts.

Cody Gakpo remains a fitness doubt for the weekend after missing the win over PSG with a recurrence of a previous ankle injury. It remains to be seen whether he will return on Saturday.

However, Liverpool are guaranteed to be without the injured trio of Joe Gomez, Tyler Morton and Conor Bradley, all of whom may have earned minutes against the Saints.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Southampton (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Jones; Salah, Elliott, Diaz; Nunez.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana could earn the warm embrace of the Anfield crowd on Saturday after being passed fit for the trip north. Whether he will feature after a month on the sidelines remains to be seen.

Ryan Fraser and Jan Bednarek will make their comebacks but Southampton will be missing James Bree, who is their only absentee for the match.

Lesley Ugochukwu was ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea last time out but will return to the matchday squad for the Anfield trip.

Southampton predicted lineup vs Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap; Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Welington; Dibling, Onuachu, Sulemana.