How to watch Premier League champions in action

Southampton host champions Liverpool in tonight’s Premier League clash.

The Saints have not won in their last four and drew with West Ham last time out.

Liverpool, meanwhile, remain top of the table despite drawing their last two games.

The Reds need to win with Manchester United now level on point with them and with a game in hand.

Liverpool have beaten Southampton in each of their last six top-flight meetings.

Southampton v Liverpool: How to watch

This match will be held at St Mary’s on Monday, January 4 and will kick-off at 8pm.

It is being broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm.

Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.

If not, you can purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £8.99.

Southampton v Liverpool: Team news

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will miss the visit of Liverpool after testing positive for coronavirus.

McCarthy was the only Saints player or staff member to prove positive after the latest round of testing and is now in isolation.

Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl will be back in the dugout having been cleared to end his own period of self-isolation.

Jannik Vestergaard and Nathan Redmond are out due to injury.

Liverpool will look to freshen things up after their dull draw with Newcastle.

Thiago Alcantara made his long-awaited comeback against the Toon after more than two months out with a knee injury and could be in line for only his second start of the season.

Georginio Wijnaldum set to return to the line-up after being rested.

Xherdan Shaqiri also returned in that game and could get a longer run out, while Nat Phillips looks set to keep his place with Joel Matip out for three weeks with a groin problem.

Southampton v Liverpool: What has been said?

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl: “We have to find a good balance of keeping the ball and still creating chances, and I think this is a good challenge for the next games.

“But the most important thing for me is that so far we have conceded 19 goals this season, one less than Liverpool, and this is the biggest step.

“This is what was definitely necessary and this was the fundamental of having a good season.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: “Our season is so far, so good. Not more, not less. We try to be ready for each game.

“I liked the reaction [against Newcastle] from the second half against West Brom. That was good. Now Southampton will ask for different things, we have to be ready again.

“Then Aston Villa, then Manchester United. Yeah, this season is a tough one for the supporters. If you are neutral then you will love it, I’m pretty sure, because it will go to the wire probably.

“But it’s just tough for all of us, that’s the reason why it’s so close.”

Southampton v Liverpool: Match stats and facts

• Southampton have lost each of their last six Premier League meetings with Liverpool, scoring just twice and conceding 17 goals in these games.
• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League meetings with Southampton (W6 D2), keeping a clean sheet in six of those matches.
• Southampton have won 10 league games against reigning Premier League champions, beating all six different teams to win the trophy when defending their crown (Man Utd, Blackburn, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Leicester). They could become the first team to beat all seven Premier League champions in the season following a title win.
• Southampton won their first league game of 2020, beating Spurs 1-0 at St Mary’s. Saints haven’t won their opening league game in consecutive calendar years since 2002 and 2003 (which included a 1-0 victory over Spurs).
• Liverpool have won their first league game in just one of the last eight calendar years when kicking off the new year away from home (D4 L3), with that victory coming at Burnley in 2018.
• The reigning top-flight champion has lost their first league game in just two of the last 31 calendar years (W18 D11), with Man Utd losing 0-3 at Newcastle in 2012, and 1-2 at home to Spurs in 2014.
• Southampton have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games played on a Monday (D7 L7), though that victory was in their last such match at Brighton in December.
• Southampton have played out back-to-back goalless draws in the Premier League for the first time since October 2018 under Mark Hughes – they have never registered three consecutive goalless draws in their league history.
• Since Ralph Hasenhüttl took charge of Southampton in December 2018, Danny Ings has been directly involved in 38 goals in the Premier League (31 goals and seven assists); 16 more than the player with the next most at the club in this period (22 – James Ward-Prowse).
• Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has scored seven goals in his six Premier League games against Southampton, only scoring more against Bournemouth (8) and Watford (8) in the competition.