The Premier League title race could not be closer at this late stage of the season as both Manchester City and Liverpool are fighting for English football’s biggest prize. The latter are in action on Friday evening as they take a trip to Southampton.

STATS

• Southampton still aren’t completely clear of relegation in the top flight despite both Huddersfield and Fulham being unable to escape the grips of the bottom three. A couple of wins should be enough to get them out of trouble but with three wins in their last four, they are in very good form.
• Liverpool are having their best ever Premier League season and have a very realistic chance of lifting their first ever trophy. They find themselves a point behind Man City but as their game is before theirs, it will potentially provide an advantage. They are unbeaten in their last 11 league games and they have won each of their last three which sees them keeping pace.
• Former Red Danny Ings has been Southampton’s main source of goals this term as he has seven in the league, more than any of his team-mates.
• Liverpool have two players chasing the Golden Boot as both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have 17 goals, just two behind Sergio Aguero.

HEAD TO HEAD

Southampton won’t take confidence from their recent meetings with Liverpool as they haven’t beat them in the league at the last five attempts. However, they’ve lost just one of the last three at St Mary’s against the Reds. The reverse fixture back in September was comfortable for Liverpool as they won 3-0 but goals aren’t a common theme when they meet as over 2.5 goals have been scored in just two of the last seven.

SOUTHAMPTON NEWS

An unlikely victory for the Saints will take them 14^th while a point will move them into 15^th. Although they will be without Jannik Vestergaard, Shane Long and Michael Obafemi who are all injured.

Latest matches: Southampton FC

30.03.2019	Prem	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	Southampton FC	0:1	W
09.03.2019	Prem	Southampton FC	Tottenham Hotspur	2:1	W
02.03.2019	Prem	Manchester United	Southampton FC	3:2	L
27.02.2019	Prem	Southampton FC	Fulham FC	2:0	W
24.02.2019	Prem	Arsenal FC	Southampton FC	2:0	L

LIVERPOOL NEWS

The visitors will go top of the table with a win and that is the only outcome they will happy with. Virgil van Dijk is a doubt for the favourites while Joe Gomez probably won’t return. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in training though.

Latest matches: Liverpool FC

31.03.2019	Prem	Liverpool FC	Tottenham Hotspur	2:1	W
17.03.2019	Prem	Fulham FC	Liverpool FC	1:2	W
13.03.2019	UEFA	Bayern Munich	Liverpool FC	1:3	W
10.03.2019	Prem	Liverpool FC	Burnley FC	4:2	W
03.03.2019	Prem	Everton FC	Liverpool FC	0:0	D

SUMMARY

Even though Southampton are fighting for their lives near the bottom end of the table, Liverpool are still huge favourites to come away with all three points. The Reds have been exceptional at the back this term and if van Dijk starts, I would recommend them keeping a clean sheet whilst also winning but if the Dutch centre-back is injured then you should be more cautious.