Liverpool – Southampton

A Championship representative will suffer defeat on the champion's field.

Liverpool started the new English football season in a truly champion-like manner. The 'Reds' lost to Crystal Palace on penalties in their first official match for the Community Shield, but did not make any mistakes in subsequent matches. It seemed that the EFL Cup was not a priority tournament for Liverpool, considering the club's commitments in the Champions League and the level of tasks in the Premier League. However, to understand Arne Slot's actions in forming the squad, one must look back at last year’s tournament. Indeed, in the Round of 16, the 'Reds' fielded an experimental team against West Ham United. However, that selection was enough to thrash the 'Hammers' 5-1 at Anfield. Subsequently, Liverpool progressed to the EFL Cup final following a similar strategy, where they lost to Newcastle. Southampton had a poor first season in the Premier League after being promoted and returned to the Championship. Currently, the 'Saints' are undergoing a painful adjustment period in the new division, which is reflected in their results. This summer, the club was taken over by 32-year-old Will Still, who had previously managed Reims and Lens. This young man did not play at the professional level, but he is now tasked with preparing his team for a match against one of the strongest clubs in the world. Bookmakers have made the hosts clear favourites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.16 on their victory. During Jurgen Klopp's management at Liverpool, players were fielded in the early stages of the EFL Cup whom few had seen before. Consequently, the results were sometimes disappointing for the 'Reds'. Arne Slot has a slightly different approach, which does not bode well for Southampton. Surely, players like Isak, Wirtz, Frimpong, and others, who are worth half of Southampton's squad but currently do not have a place in the Liverpool starting line-up, will get game time from the first minutes. They will undoubtedly want to show their best side. Under Still, Southampton has only won one out of six Championship matches, and that victory was snatched against Wrexham with a goal in the 90+6 minute. Liverpool will not leave such an opponent a single chance.