Liverpool – Southampton

The visitors will resist a top club weakened by injuries

Interestingly, three of the four leaders of the Championship reached the stage of 1/8 finals of the FA Cup this season. Only Ipswich Town did not manage to get to the current round of the tournament. Southampton, despite the loss of playing form, in the last couple of weeks, is one of the brightest representatives of the second division, a real contender for a return to the Premier League. At the 1/32 stage of the final, the Saints were visited by League Two side Walsall. Having defeated their opponents with a score of 4-0, Southampton's players almost crashed out in the next round as a result of Watford's efforts. However, in the first match, the Saints scored a quick 89th minute goal, and at home thanks to goals from Mara (twice) and Adams left the Hornets no chance - 3-0. Liverpool at the stage 1/32 final had to play not with a club of the Second League, but with one of the three best teams in England. However, the Merseysiders managed to beat Arsenal in London with a convincing score of 2-0. In the next round, the "Reds" did not notice on the field of Norwich City - 5:2. Bookmakers have identified the hosts of the field as favourites for the upcoming meeting, offering on their victory odds of 1.56. Before the game at Anfield, Liverpool have two major problems, arising one from the other. Firstly, half of the Merseyside club's main squad is in the infirmary at the same time. The injury list includes Salah, Nunez, Jota, Alisson, Matip, and other important players. Secondly, Liverpool's "surviving" players played 120 minutes of the English League Cup game against Chelsea on Sunday, managing to snatch victory before the end of the second extra time. In other words, Jurgen Klopp can only rotate tired players at the expense of youth players who are not fully prepared to fight at this level. Southampton recently had the longest unbeaten streak in the Championship, which lasted two and a half dozen rounds. It ended only in mid-February. Now "saints" have two defeats in a row, but the departure from the top-6 of the championship does not threaten them, in connection with which the team may be weakened motivation in the Championship. At Anfield, the guests will play with a different level of dedication and will be close to success.