Southampton vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates as Takumi Minamino equalises

Takumi Minamino scores against Southampton (Getty Images)

Follow all the action as Southampton host Liverpool in the Premier League this evening.

Jurgen Klopp’s side head into tonight’s fixture four points adrift at the top, having played one game less, and know a surprise defeat would see Pep Guardiola’s side crowned champions. Liverpool will have to make do without Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who both picked up knocks during the club’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea last weekend. Klopp has suggested he could make several more changes to his starting line-up due to the short turnaround as the Champions League final against Real Madrid looms at the end of the month.

Southampton have avoided the threat of relegation despite a somewhat disappointing campaign. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side sit 15th in the table but have taken just one point from their last four league fixtures, with a 3-0 defeat against Brentford last weekend compounding their recent woes. Can they produce a seismic upset to decide the season with a game to spare, though?

Follow all the action live below:

Southampton vs Liverpool

27’: Minamino equalises against old club

13’: Redmond stunner gives Saints lead

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Lyanco, Salisu, Stephens, Walker-Peters, Redmond, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Broja, Tella

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas, Milner, Jones, Elliott, Minamino, Firmino, Jota

If Liverpool lose, City win title

Southampton FC 1 – 1 Liverpool FC

Southampton 1 – 1 Liverpool

20:22 , Michael Jones

36 mins: Close! Liverpool win the ball high up the pitch and thread it up to Roberto Firmino who spins towards goal and laces a shot from range. It continues to rise and flies over the crossbar without troubling Alex McCarthy.

Southampton 1 – 1 Liverpool

20:21 , Michael Jones

33 mins: Gomez and Elliott link up on the right side with the youngster dribbling his way into the box. His low cross is deflected into the six-yard box by Mohamed Salisu and Roberto Firmino latches onto it. He could shoot but squares it across goal hoping to set Diogo Jota up for an easy tap in but his pass is blocked and cleared.

Story continues

Southampton 1 – 1 Liverpool

20:16 , Michael Jones

30 mins: Chance! The visitors are enjoying themselves out there in spite of the high stakes nature of the game. Kostas Tsimikas does a few stepovers on his way down the left wing before his passes it back to James Milner. Milner plays the ball into the feet of Curtis Jones who turns towards goal and fires an effort wide of the near post.

GOAL! Southampton 1 – 1 Liverpool (Minamino, 27’)⚽️

20:14 , Michael Jones

27 mins: There’s the equaliser! After repelling a Southampton counter-attack Liverpool move forward down the right side. Joe Gomez carries the ball before fizzing a pass into the box to Diogo Jota. He controls it brilliantly and lays the ball off to Takumi Minamino who takes a touch to set the ball before smoking it past Alex McCarthy from close range! Liverpool are back in the game,

Southampton 1 – 0 Liverpool

20:11 , Michael Jones

24 mins: Southampton have been pushed deeper and deeper by Liverpool since the goal was scored. The visitors are piling the pressure on the back line but there’s no way through. Harvey Elliott is played down the right wing and whips a cross over to Diogo Jota. He can’t control the header and the Saints recover possession before sweeping forward on the counter-attack.

Southampton 1 – 0 Liverpool

20:08 , Michael Jones

21 mins: Takumi Minamino feeds the ball into the right side of the Southampton penalty area as Joe Gomez makes a run into the box from the right side. He collects the ball but looks to be running out of room as Mohammed Salisu comes over to cover. He forces Gomez to the byline and the Liverpool right-back goes to ground looking for a penalty after some contact.

Southampton 1 – 0 Liverpool

20:04 , Michael Jones

19 mins: Disallowed goal! Jurgen Klopp thought Liverpool had the equaliser! Kostas Tsimikas curls the free kick into the middle of the area but Southampton hold their high line on the front edge of the box. Roberto Firmino breaks through the line, meets the ball in the air and nods it into the back of the net but gets flagged offside.

Southampton 1 – 0 Liverpool

20:03 , Michael Jones

17 mins: That’s a big goal for Southampton. As it stands Manchester City are going to be named Premier League champions tonight. Liverpool have to respond now. They win a free kick just inside Southampton’s half and have the chance to swing the ball into the box.

GOAL! Southampton 1 – 0 Liverpool (Redmond, 13’)⚽️

19:58 , Michael Jones

13 mins: Nathan Redmond puts the Saints in front! Lyanco takes the ball off Diogo Jota inside his own final third and Liverpool appeal for a foul. Nothing comes of it as the defender plays the ball across to Ibrahima Diallo. He sends it out wide to Redmond who sprints down the left wing before cutting inside of Joe Gomez. He sends the ball towards the far top corner, gets lucky with a deflection off James Milner and nestles the ball into the back of the net!

Southampton 0 – 0 Liverpool

19:56 , Michael Jones

9 mins: Chance! After a bit of treatment Konate is fine to play on. Southampton work the ball over to the right side of the pitch and slide Armando Broja into the box. His pace is enough to get him in behind Konate but Joel Matip is quick to cover. He forces Broja to the byline where he attempts to pull the ball into the six-yard box only for Alisson to block the pass.

Southampton 0 – 0 Liverpool

19:53 , Michael Jones

6 mins: James Milner hits one from outside the ball and smacks the effort into a Southampton defender – Jack Stephens I think. The ball ricochets over to Kostas Tsimikas whose cross gets deflected out for a corner.

Southampton defend it well but Ibrahima Konate lunges at the ball and takes a knock to the face as he attempts to win the header.

Southampton 0 – 0 Liverpool

19:51 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Liverpool dominating the opening minutes but haven’t yet put together a penetrating attack into the Southampton final third. Both teams are feeling each other out, trying to up the tempo of the game.

Kick off: Southampton 0 – 0 Liverpool

19:45 , Michael Jones

Southampton kick off the match and knock the ball back to Jack Stephens. He floats it over to the right wing where Kostas Tsimikas wins it in the air and Liverpool take over possession.

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:43 , Michael Jones

Here come the players. A reminder that if Liverpool lose tonight, Manchester City will be the Premier League champions. The Reds need to win to keep the pressure on the league leaders but Jurgen Klopp has named a fresh team to take on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints.

Klopp on Southampton

19:40 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp has warned his players not to give away any free kicks in dangerous areas due to the set piece threat of James Ward-Prowse.

“They are a highly energetic, well-organised team who defend well, press like crazy and counter-attack with all that they have,” he said.

“We mustn’t make silly fouls because James Ward-Prowse can shoot into the corner of the goal from any corner of the pitch!”

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:34 , Michael Jones

It’s a wet and windy night at St. Mary’s Stadium. The warm-ups are winding down and kick off is just over 10 minutes away.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Premier League Golden Boot 2022: Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min battle for top scorer award

19:28 , Michael Jones

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah currently leads the Premier League Golden Boot race, but Tottenham’s Son Heung-min could pip the striker on the final day of the season.

As of writing, Salah has 22 goals with two league matches remaining and Son has 21 with one game left to play. However, Salah won’t be available for the Reds’ trip to Southampton and it’s unknown if he will be up for selection for Wolves either, so Son has a huge opportunity to take the award on the final day with Spurs facing Norwich.

And while Son could be crowned the top league scorer, he has said it isn’t at the top of his priority list. “Obviously it’s a good thing that you are racing to be top scorer, but I have said a few times that it is more important to finish in the top four than anything else,” he said.

Premier League Golden Boot 2022: Salah and Son battle for top scorer award

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:25 , Michael Jones

Liverpool have kept 21 Premier League clean sheets this season, a joint high alongside Manchester City and one short of equalling the club record set in 2005-06.

They could reach 10 top-flight away clean sheets in a campaign for the first time since 1984-85, when they ended with 11.

(The FA via Getty Images)

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:22 , Michael Jones

Southampton are on a tough run. They’ve only won one game in their last nine league games and have lost four of the last five home games.

Although Southampton can’t be relegated the fans are beginning to grumble about the results and Ralph Hasenhuttl will feel under a little bit of pressure to get a result tonight, especially in light of the team Jurgen Klopp has picked.

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:19 , Michael Jones

Only one of James Ward-Prowse’s nine league goals this season has been scored at St. Mary’s Stadium.

(Getty Images)

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:16 , Michael Jones

A Liverpool defeat would confirm Manchester City as Premier League champions.

Yet, the Reds have won 18 of 19 matches this season against teams currently in the bottom half of the table, only dropping points in a 3-3 draw at Brentford in September.

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:13 , Michael Jones

Southampton need four points from their remaining two games to eclipse last season’s final tally of 43.

But, the Saints have lost seven of their 10 most recent league matches which is as many defeats as in their opening 26 fixtures of the season.

Southampton vs Liverpool

19:10 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp’s changes mean tonight’s game with be a tense affair for the Reds. Most of the first choice players are on the bench with Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk excluded from the squad entirely.

The changes signal Klopp’s focus on the Champions League final which takes place in just over a week’s time but he’ll still believe that this line up has enough firepower to earn three points against Southampton tonight.

Southampton vs Liverpool team changes

19:07 , Michael Jones

Ralph Hasenhuttl makes five changes to the Southampton team that lost to Brentford last time out. Alex McCarthy returns in goal with Lyanco and Jack Stephens coming into the defence. Mohamed Elyounoussi slots in alongside James Ward-Prowse in midfield and Nathan Tella partners Armando Broja up top.

Jurgen Klopp also makes a load of changes. Only Alisson and Ibrahima Konate remain in the starting XI from the team that lined up against Chelsea for the FA Cup final last Saturday. Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott come in alongside James Milner in the middle of the park with Takumi Minamino and Roberto Firmino start up front with Diogo Jota.

Southampton vs Liverpool line-ups

18:59 , Michael Jones

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Lyanco, Salisu, Stephens, Walker-Peters, Redmond, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Broja, Tella

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas, Milner, Jones, Elliott, Minamino, Firmino, Jota

Gary Neville hails Andy Robertson as ‘best full back in the league by a mile’

18:55 , Michael Jones

Pundit Gary Neville says Liverpool’s Andy Robertson is the best full back “by a mile” in the Premier League.

The former Manchester United player insists the Scotland international “does more than anyone would ever notice” in a season where Liverpool are gunning for the quadruple.

The Reds have already won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, are in the Champions League final and they are chasing Manchester City in the Premier League.

Gary Neville hails Andy Robertson as ‘best full back in the league by a mile’

Southampton vs Liverpool

18:50 , Michael Jones

Southampton have lost eight of the last nine league meetings between the teams with the exception in that run being a 1-0 home victory in January 2021 courtesy of an early Danny Ings goal.

The Saints can win a home league match against Liverpool in successive seasons for the first time since 2003-04 and 2004-05 but Liverpool defeated Southampton 4-0 at Anfield in the reverse fixture last November.

Klopp remembers 2018/19 title race

18:45 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have been in this position before. Trailing Manchester City until the last day of the 2018/19 season where both teams won and the Reds missed out on the title by just one point.

Something similar seems to be taking shape this year too and Jurgen Klopp spoke about his memories of that previous title race saying:

“It was the last matchday when they played Brighton, right? Brighton went 1-0 up, I could hear it in the stadium, I didn’t know they were 1-0 but I thought, ‘Probably they scored.’ I knew in that moment it’s too early, it doesn’t help. If we would have heard that sound in the 90th minute, I would have probably celebrated myself. So it was clear that City can respond. It was the last home game, so we had the walk and the only thing I felt was pride of the boys, incredible season, wow, all these kind of things.

“It was not a massive disappointment because it was not a surprise really that it happens. But the season was more a surprise than [the] finishing of the season, to be honest. The way the boys performed, the way we learned to put consistency in our performances, that made all the difference. And I knew in that moment we will get another chance, and obviously in life it’s all about timing. If we would have this year already 98 points or whatever, then we could become champions. At that time it was not possible with that amount of points. It’s all fine.

“I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow. Is it a chance, a big chance? I wouldn’t say so because I don’t know when City dropped points the last time two games in a row historically. So Aston Villa has to play in midweek when they are not used to that. As much as I’m sure they’re all professionals and these kind of things, they want to go at City, but City is a pretty good football team. So, I don’t expect City to drop points there. But that has no influence on our game for tomorrow. We know in an ideal world we go in the last matchday and are one point behind. That would be, from today’s point of view, the perfect scenario and that’s what we try to do.”

Saints playing ‘Champions League final’ against Liverpool says Hasenhuttl

18:40 , Michael Jones

Ralph Hasenhuttl says that this evening’s fixture is the equivalent of a Champions League final for his team as they have to contend with a Liverpool side who will play in Europe’s premium fixture later this month.

“They [the players] know how tough it is against the Champions League finalists. But it’s our Champions League final, if you want.” said the Southampton boss.“We are going for this with everything we have. And the team that is on the pitch is the team that will do everything to make them [the fans] proud.“The time you have on the ball will not be that high, I think. We know this, but you also have to play football in the right moments or otherwise you are struggling for defending.“So, play in the spaces you can play football and finally, be aware of the qualities they have.”

(Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp expects to have to make changes for Liverpool’s trip to Southampton

18:35 , Michael Jones

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expects to have to make a number of changes for his side’s crucial Premier League trip to Southampton on Tuesday.

The FA Cup winners are back in action on the south coast just three days after Saturday’s draining success over Chelsea on penalties at Wembley.

Key pair Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk were both forced off with injuries during the weekend showpiece and Andy Robertson, who withdrew with cramp, may not be risked.

Jurgen Klopp expects to have to make changes for Liverpool’s trip to Southampton

‘You don’t know how long is left’: James Milner savouring Liverpool success and eyeing more

18:30 , Michael Jones

James Milner is playing the long game. In more ways than one, really, given he debuted in the Premier League at 16 and is still plying his trade there two decades later. He faced David Seaman in the top flight that season and the former England goalkeeper turns 59 this year. He lined up alongside Lucas Radebe in the FA Cup and the South African is now 53, while Milner became an FA Cup winner again last weekend.

When he traded Manchester City for Liverpool in 2015, he left a club who were champions a year earlier for one who had not claimed that accolade for a quarter of a century. A few weeks into his Anfield career, the manager who signed him, Brendan Rodgers, was sacked with Liverpool languishing in 10th.

Fast forward some six-and-a-half years, and Milner is in a third tight title race between City and Liverpool; the first in blue, the other two in red. He had intended to help restore Liverpool to past glories; do the quadruple, however, and they would outstrip anything even that has gone before. His has been a resolutely unglamorous part in their rise. His faith has been vindicated.

James Milner savouring Liverpool success and eyeing more

A must win game for Liverpool

18:25 , Michael Jones

Liverpool trail Premier League leaders Manchester City by four points, with the trip to Southampton their game in hand.

Defeat at St Mary’s Stadium would end their title chances but a draw could be equally destructive. If Liverpool pick up one point tonight they will mathematically still be in the title race but their hopes of lifting the trophy will be shattered.

Man City have a goal difference of +7 on the Reds meaning Liverpool would have to put at least that many past Wolves without reply on Sunday and also hope City lose to Aston Villa.

Even if Liverpool win tonight, they are banking on Villa getting a result against the Premier League leaders. If City win on Sunday the title is theirs, anything less and Jurgen Klopp’s men are in with a chance.

That goal difference remains a problem though and Klopp will be hoping his team can get ahead early this evening and run up a sizeable lead to reduce the deficit.

Hasenhuttl on achieving ‘big’ things

18:20 , Michael Jones

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is confident that his team can get a positive result against Liverpool tonight and pointed to the Saints’ other performances against ‘big six’ teams as confirmation of his team’s determination.

“I think we have shown in the past that we can be committed in these games,” he said. “When I remember these games this season at home against the big teams, I remember the Tottenham game where we were one man down.

“We did a fantastic job against Arsenal. We have one [draw] against Man City. We have drawn against Man United.

“So we have shown against the top teams that we can, together, achieve something very big. And this is what we need on Tuesday evening.”

Klopp on Salah and Van Dijk

18:15 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp gave an update yesterday on the fitness of Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk after both players were subbed off in the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

“The target is they could be involved again at the weekend,” said Klopp. “It’s very positive. We’re realistic about the Wolves game, but for tomorrow, [we’d] rather not.”

That means that the Reds will need to defeat Southampton tonight without two of their most influential players in order to keep the title race alive.

This is why Liverpool fans boo the national anthem and this is what would stop it

18:10 , Michael Jones

The contrast between Boris Johnson and Jurgen Klopp could not be starker. The Liverpool manager would make a great statesman. He is honest, takes responsibility, cares about people in worse situations than himself and does his best to contribute to a wider society.

The prime minister is the polar opposite.

When Klopp talks politics, it makes sense. When Johnson pontificates about football, it’s more of the same bluster that has characterised his entire career. On Monday, according to certain sections of the media, Johnson “slapped down” Klopp because the 54-year-old suggested it might be worth at least exploring the reasons why Liverpool fans booed the national anthem and the Queen’s grandson before the FA Cup final on Saturday. A spokesman said the prime minister disagreed with Klopp and called the behaviour of the supporters a “great shame”. It takes some fairly deranged spin to see this as a slap-down. Klopp probably hasn’t even noticed that he’s supposed to have been put in his place.

This is why Liverpool fans boo the national anthem and this is what would stop it

Jurgen Klopp defends Liverpool fans who booed national anthem at Wembley

18:05 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp has defended the Liverpool fans who booed the national anthem before his side’s FA Cup final victory on Saturday.

Supporters of the club at Wembley voiced their displeasure on several occasions prior to kick-off, most prominently during the rendition of “God Save the Queen”.

The image of Prince William, president of the Football Association (FA), was also jeered when shown on the big screen.

Jurgen Klopp defends Liverpool fans who booed national anthem at Wembley

Early team news for Southampton vs Liverpool

18:00 , Michael Jones

Southampton could see Fraser Forster and Stuart Armstrong return after both players returned to training at the weekend. They have been struggling with back and knee problems respectively but tonight’s game may be too soon for them and it is more likely that they’ll feature against Leicester on Sunday.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been ruled out for tonight’s clash after the pair went off during Saturday’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley. Fabinho is also missing with a muscle injury while Andy Robertson is a doubt after feeling cramp on Saturday.

Southampton vs Liverpool

17:45 , Michael Jones

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Southampton’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.

The Saints have already secured a spot in the competition next season and will be looking to end the year on a high. They’ll draw on memories of this fixture from January 2021 when Danny Ings scored inside the opening two minutes and the home side held on to give Ralph Hasentuttl’s men their first win in nine Premier League meetings against the Reds.

However, the Liverpool of this campaign are a different prospect altogether. They are still fighting to achieve an unprecedented quadruple having already secured the Carabao and FA Cups. Jurgen Klopp’s men are also into the final of the Champions League and trail Manchester City by four points in the Prem. That means they must beat Southampton tonight to keep the pressure on City and take the title race into the final day of the season. If they lose this evening the title will once again be heading to Manchester.