Liverpool and Southampton headline tonight’s Carabao Cup action at Anfield where they will compete for a place in the fourth round, live at 8pm on ITV1 and Sky Sports Main Event.
League Cup favourites Liverpool enter the competition for the first time this season, while Championship side Southampton have navigated their way past Northampton and Norwich to reach this stage.
Liverpool vs Southampton Prediction & Tips
Flynn Downes to be carded @ 5/2 with Sky Bet
Flynn Downes is an absolute card magnet who looks a big price at 5/2 to enter the referee’s book at Anfield. The Saints midfielder has already picked up three yellow cards in seven matches so far this season, and last term, he led the Premier League in yellow cards with 12.
Liverpool to lead after 15 minutes @ 11/5 with bet365 (boosted from 19/10)
It could be a tough evening for the out-of-form Saints, who head to Anfield low on confidence after a 3-1 defeat to Hull. Liverpool, on the other hand, have been flying out of the blocks: racing into a 2-0 lead inside six minutes against Atletico Madrid, then going ahead by the 10th minute against Everton.
Alexander Isak Over 0.5 Headed Shots on Target @ 4/1 with bet365
Alexander Isak will be eager to get valuable minutes as he builds towards full match fitness. He has a strong chance to open his Liverpool account against a struggling Saints side, but while he’s just 4/7 to score, there’s value in backing him to register a headed shot on target at 4/1.
Liverpool Form & Team Setup
Liverpool have claimed six wins from six games in all competitions this season and are the red-hot 1/6 favourites to swat aside Southampton tonight, while they can be backed at 5/1 to go on and lift the trophy for a record-extending eleventh time.
Arne Slot is expected to ring the changes, giving key players a well-earned rest after a demanding start to the campaign. That opens the door for fringe players to impress, with the likes of Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, Federico Chiesa, and Rio Ngumoha all in contention to start. Alexander Isak could also be handed a spot in the starting XI as he continues to build match sharpness.
Southampton Form & Team Setup
Southampton fans are still waiting for signs of progress under new manager Will Still, who has endured a sluggish start to his tenure with just one win from his opening six Championship matches. A deflating 3-1 defeat at Hull on Saturday leaves the Saints just one point above the relegation zone.
There have been some positives with back-to-back clean-sheet wins on the road in the Carabao Cup offering a glimmer of encouragement. That said, the Saints now face a daunting challenge at Anfield, where they’re priced at 18/1 to pull off a major cup shock.
Still has favoured a back-three system and is expected to take a defensive approach against Liverpool’s attacking firepower. Flynn Downes should return from illness to shield the defence, providing a crucial layer of protection in midfield.
Head-to-Head Battles and What the Stats Reveal
Liverpool won all three encounters between the sides last season, including a 2-1 Carabao Cup victory at St Mary’s. While Southampton were beaten in each match, they can take small encouragement from having taken the lead in both league games and scoring in all three.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with the Saints in all competitions, winning eight of those. Southampton’s only win in the last 17 matchups came in 2021 – a 1-0 home victory.
This fixture has consistently delivered goals in recent years, with over 2.5 goals landing in each of the last eight meetings, and both teams scoring in seven of those.
Southampton fans will fondly recall their famous 1-0 win at Anfield in the 2016/17 League Cup semi-final, when Shane Long struck a dramatic late winner to send the Saints to Wembley. That season, they went unbeaten in four matches against Liverpool, remarkably keeping clean sheets in all of them.
Last 5 Liverpool vs Southampton Meetings
| DATE | MATCH RESULT | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 08/03/25 | Liverpool 3-1 Southampton | Premier League |
| 18/12/24 | Southampton 1-2 Liverpool | Carabao Cup |
| 24/11/24 | Southampton 2-3 Liverpool | Premier League |
| 28/02/24 | Liverpool 3-0 Southampton | FA Cup |
| 28/05/23 | Southampton 4-4 Liverpool | Premier League |
Key Battles on the Pitch
Alexander Isak vs Southampton’s Back 3
Isak will view this fixture as the ideal opportunity to get his first goal in a Liverpool shirt. Southampton’s expected back three will have the tough task of attempting to keep the Swede under control.
Curtis Jones vs Flynn Downes
Jones will aim to dictate the tempo and pull the strings for Liverpool in midfield, while Downes will be tasked with breaking up play and disrupting the Reds’ rhythm.
Rio Ngumoha vs Mads Roerslev
Ngumoha made headlines after he came off the bench to score a dramatic injury-time winner against Newcastle and could now be set for his first start of the season over on the left flank, where he’ll come up against wing-back Roerslev.