With another domestic cup sitting pretty in the trophy cabinet, Liverpool continue their quadruple pursuit with Tuesday’s trip to Southampton in the Premier League.
The hosts have had 10 days to mull over their recent 3-0 loss to Brentford, while the Reds lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 16 years at the weekend.
A season that has shown plenty of flickers of promise is ending in disheartening fashion for Southampton and their fans, who can take some solace in the fact that their side have been declared officially safe from the drop ahead of the final couple of gameweeks.
The away day blues continued to bedevil the Saints at the Brentford Community Stadium, as Pontus Jansson and Yoane Wissa struck in quick succession in the first half before Kristoffer Ajer took it upon himself to dribble through a sea of bodies and fire home in the second period.
While it is still mathematically possible for Everton and Burnley to leapfrog the 15th-placed Saints, Leeds United’s draw with Brighton & Hove Albion means that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will finish above the dotted line and can already begin preparations for another top-flight campaign.
Posting just one victory from their last 11 in the Premier League is not a recipe for success before meeting Liverpool, though, especially with the Reds travelling down South with potentially renewed hopes of completing the impossible.
A sense of deja vu befell Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel in front of the Wembley crowd on Saturday afternoon, as both sides could not convert a single one of their multitude of chances during a goalless 120 minutes in the 150th FA Cup final.
However, Klopp’s “mentality monsters” sure did hold their nerve from 12 yards out, as Alisson Becker stopped Mason Mount’s effort before Kostas Tsimikas found the back of the net in Liverpool colours for the very first time to spark pandemonium for those in red.
Completing a domestic cup double has certainly set Liverpool up well for a Premier League and Champions League charge, and the gap to Manchester City will be cut to one point with a win after the champions could only draw with West Ham United, but it remains out of the Reds’ hands.
A shaky defensive start did not prevent Liverpool from running out 2-1 winners over Aston Villa last time out, but Klopp now has injuries aplenty to contend with as he seeks to steer the Reds to a seventh win from eight away from home in the Premier League.
Hasenhuttl memorably dropped to his knees as Southampton ran out 1-0 winners over Liverpool at St Mary’s last season, but the Reds hit the Saints for four without reply at Anfield earlier this term and will be in no mood to let lightning strike twice on the South coast.
Southampton Premier League form:
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Liverpool Premier League form:
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Liverpool form (all competitions):
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We say: Southampton 0-2 Liverpool
Southampton are certainly ending the season with a whimper but possess fond memories from their last South coast battle with Liverpool, who should be far from full strength for this one.
However, Hasenhuttl’s side are hardly full of confidence right now, and if Liverpool can actually hit the target this week, Klopp’s rotated side will expect to cruise to victory and keep their title hopes alive regardless.