Key events
team news
Both teams are without several starting players. Alex McCarthy replaces injured Aaron Ramsdale in goal Southamptonone of five changes from the loss to Wolves a fortnight ago. Ryan Fraser, Tyler Dibling, Pablo Onuachu and David Downes replaces Ryan Manning, Joe Aribo, Cameron Archer and the injured Jan Bednarek.
Liverpool make three changes from the 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Conor Bradley covers for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back; Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai Luis Díaz and Alexis Mac Allister are preferred.
Southampton (possible 4-2-3-1) McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Fraser; Downes, Lallana; Dibling, Fernandes, Armstrong; Onuachu.
Substitutes: Lumley, Manning, Bree, Sugawara, Aribo, Sulemana, Ugochukwu, Brereton, Archer.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Núñez, Gakpo.
Substitutes: Jaros, Davies, Gómez, Quansah, Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott, Morton, Díaz.
Referee Samuel Barrot.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live minute-by-minute coverage of Southampton against Liverpool at St Mary's. Arne Slot's team will be eight points clear if they do so, an incredible lead even with 26 games left.
The match is bottom versus top and will remain that way regardless of the result, as Southampton are four points behind. They're chasing a rare feat: it's been 13 years since bottm defeated top in the first division.
Kick off 2:00 p.m.
