Liverpool vs. Southampton – English Premier League, May 8, 2021

Liverpool returns to the pitch on Saturday. This is after its game against Manchester United was called off when fans protested against the owners at the Old Trafford club.

It is unlikely the postponement will affect the Liverpool players, aside from giving them some much-needed rest. Southampton could face a more energetic Liverpool this weekend.

Southampton beat Liverpool earlier in the season, but that began a poor run of form for both clubs. This is unlikely to have any effect on this weekend’s game. BetOnline agrees as it has made Southampton a big underdog.

That seems about right to me – I can’t really see anything but a home win here.

Liverpool is now just two points behind Spurs with a game in hand and will feel it has a very good chance of taking one of the Europa League places this season. But Jurgen Klopp and the players should have loftier ambitions – meaning Liverpool needs to win this game to help narrow the seven-point gap between the club and the Champions League places.

Klopp has the usual long list of injuries, with the likes of Henderson and van Dijk still out.

Ralph Hasenhuttl will be hoping that his Southampton side can put on a good show of its own on Saturday, as it attempts to save some face after what has been an embarrassing season at times. Last week’s draw with Leicester should go down in the positive column, despite losing a man so early. That is the type of performance the manager will require on Saturday.

But the Saints have not won in the last three and will be missing top striker Danny Ings this weekend. He scored against his former club in the win over Liverpool earlier in the season – and it will be down to an improving Che Adams to score the goals on Saturday. Hasenhuttl may feel his team has more chance trying to stop the home side scoring, though.

It hasn’t been just several injuries that have stopped Liverpool from challenging for the title this season, but it has certainly hampered its chances. However, a Champions League place should still have been achievable.

Jurgen Klopp may feel as though that is still possible, but I feel even a convincing victory here will not be enough to catapult the club up the table.