Liverpool vs Southampton: team news, kick-off, referee & TV

Liverpool will play their first match as 2024 Carabao Cup champions on Wednesday evening when they welcome Southampton to Anfield in the FA Cup. 

The Reds won England's other major domestic cup competition on Sunday, beating Chelsea 1-0 after extra-time at Wembley thanks to Virgil van Dijk's 118th-minute header.

Jurgen Klopp's youthful side claimed Liverpool's first piece of silverware this season, despite a raft of injuries that will continue to cause the manager problems midweek.

Liverpool will want to make it all the way to the FA Cup final at Wembley this season too, but need to navigate a potentially tricky tie against Championship high-flyers Southampton.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Liverpool's clash with the Saints on Wednesday.

DATE, KICK-OFF, STADIUM, REFEREE AND VAR

• Date: Wednesday, 28 February

• Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET /  12:00 PT

• Stadium: Anfield

• Referee: Craig Pawson

• Assistant Referees: Adam Nunn and Steven Meredith

• Fourth Official: Rebecca Welch

• VAR: Darren Bond

• AVAR: Daniel Robathan

LIVERPOOL VS SOUTHAMPTON HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Liverpool and Southampton have been frequent competitors in recent years, although the Saints' demotion to the Championship last season means that meetings may become less regular moving forward.

Unsurprisingly, the Reds have dominated previous clashes, winning 61 of 118 matches since the first fixture all the way back in 1902. Southampton have won just 31 times against Liverpool, drawing the other 26 battles.

Recent history has also favoured Jurgen Klopp's side, with the German having won ten of his last 12 games against the south coast side.

Southampton did manage a victory against Liverpool back in January 2021, an early Danny Ings strike earning them a 1-0 win, but they haven't won at Anfield since a League Cup triumph in 2017.

The two teams haven't faced one another in the FA Cup since 1990 - a game Liverpool won 3-0 at Anfield - with Wednesday's clash only the fourth in this competition since World War II.

WHERE TO WATCH LIVERPOOL VS SOUTHAMPTON ON TV AND LIVE STREAM

Every FA Cup fifth round tie is on TV or live stream in some capacity in the United Kingdom, with ITV showing Liverpool vs Southampton. The game will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX.

There are a range of broadcasters across Europe including the likes of DAZN and Viaplay, while those in Australia will be able to watch on Paramount+.

In North America, the game will be accessible on ESPN+ in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada, while those in South America can tune in on Star+.

beIN Sports is the main provider in much of Asia, while supporters in the majority of Africa can watch on SuperSport.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Liverpool were without 11 players through injury for Sunday's final, but that tally may now have hit 13 given Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off in the first half with an ankle issue and Wataru Endo left Wembley on crutches.

The midfield duo will add their names to an extensive injury list that already contains Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai. All three were in consideration for Sunday, but none of them made the matchday squad.

Diogo Jota will be out for a few months with a knee injury, while Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are unlikely to feature until after the March international break.

Curtis Jones is also some way off fitness as he nurses an ankle injury, although he may be available before the upcoming international period.

Thiago, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak are all on the treatment table as well, with Klopp likely to name another youthful lineup on Wednesday.

SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS

The Saints are without a couple of players for their trip to Liverpool, with Southampton boss Russell Martin likely to field a full-strength side at Anfield.

Juan Larios is currently sidelined for the Championship side having not played any first team football since last season, while forward Ross Stewart is also out with a muscle injury sustained in December.

Liverpool will be familiar with a number of Southampton's stars on Wednesday, including the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Fraser.

LIVERPOOL PREDICTED LINEUP

It's difficult to predict exactly how Klopp will line up on Wednesday given his injury list and the efforts of his fit players on Sunday, with the 56-year-old likely to prioritise youth again.

Caoimhin Kelleher will start in between the sticks after a dazzling display at Wembley, with the likes of Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas all potentially featuring from the start.

It will be slim pickings for Klopp in midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister potentially partnering the young duo of Bobby Clark and James McConnell - both of whom performed brilliantly in the capital.

Up top, Jayden Danns could be handed a first senior start, while Conor Bradley may feature on the right wing like he did for part of the Chelsea clash.

(4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Clark, McConnell, Mac Allister; Bradley, Danns, Gakpo.

SCORE PREDICTION

The ecstasy and relief of Sunday's victory should galvanise an already committed group of Liverpool players, who will be looking to hand Southampton a third straight defeat in all competitions.

However, with youth comes inconsistency, and there are no guarantees that Klopp's academy stars will be able to perform as well as they did against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Still, Liverpool should find a way past a testing Southampton side, even if victory won't be as memorable as it was at the weekend.

Liverpool 2-1 Southampton