Follow live coverage as Southampton face Liverpool today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Southampton FC 2 - 3 Liverpool FC
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:52SALAH HITS THE POST! On a hat-trick and he's centimetres from putting the game to bed. Liverpool race forward in a counter-attack instigated by Salah. It comes to Diaz on the left at the edge of the box who tries to find Salah on the right of the box. The cross takes a deflection and loops into the air where Salah wait for its landing at the back post. He makes strong contact to beat McCarthy but his volley pings off the inside of the post. Agonisingly close.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:52Substitution Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro Wataru Endō
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:47Yellow Card Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:45PENALTY TO LIVEROOL!! Salah curls a ball to the back post from the right corner of the box. As Sugawara tries to stop the cross from getting to Robertson, it hits his arm, and the referee points straight to the spot.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:45Penalty Goal Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:44Szoboszlai curls a ball into the left back post, where Diaz and Robertson are both charging to get on the end of it. Neither quite manages it, as more resolute defending from Southampton sees them just scoop it clear.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:40Martin now opts to make a double substitution of his own as goalscorer and assister Armstrong departs to be replaced by Archer.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:40Substitution Ryan Fraser Yukinari Sugawara
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:40Diaz sprints to the left byline in the box with the ball before clipping it across to the other post. Salah is running in, but Walker-Peters is there first to clear off the backline. Salah shows his frustration but the visitors can't do anything from the resulting corner.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:38The resulting free-kick is only just outside the box to the left and Szoboszlai stands over it. He gets all the power he can behind it but the Southampton wall does its job to block the shot.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:36Salah has scored in five consecutive Premier League appearances, his joint second-longest scoring streak in the competition behind a run of seven in a row between August-October 2021.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:36Yellow Card Adam James Armstrong
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:34Liverpool now lead once more on xG with 1.51 compared to Southampton's 1.23 xG.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:34SAVED BY MCCARTHY! Liverpool have refound their impetus after that goal. Diaz gets off a fantastic header from a corner. He jumps highest to twist in the air and direct the ball with the back of his head across goal towards the back post. It forces McCarthy into an acrobatic save to turn the ball over the crossbar.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:28Assist Ryan Jiro Gravenberch
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:27Goal Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:27LIVERPOOL SHOULD BE LEVEL! Nunez finds space to the right of the box and takes it all the way to the byline where substitute Diaz is running into the far post. The cutback is just too far behind the Colombian, though, and flies out the other side of the box.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:26Liverpool are finding themselves in all sorts of trouble at the back. Armstrong breaks clear into the box once more but Bradley manages to clear and despite the forward going to ground a free-kick is awarded for a foul on Kelleher.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:24Substitution Cody Mathès Gakpo Luis Fernando Díaz Marulanda
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:24Substitution Curtis Julian Jones Alexis Mac Allister
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:19Gravenberch does superbly to intercept the ball high up on Liverpool's right-hand side. He skips over a couple of challenges and is surprised to find himself in the box where he squares for Nunez, but his shot goes wide after a deflection. Nothing comes of the corner.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:19Assist Adam James Armstrong
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:16Dibling surges forward, having cut into the centre of the field. He keeps possession, skipping over challenges before launching a shot from range that starts to dip but flies over the crossbar in the end.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:16There's a break in play here, as Onuachu has picked up an injury from that challenge. There are calls for a stretcher, but he's able to walk off himself in the end.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:15Substitution Ebere Paul Onuachu Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:12Yellow Card Cody Mathès Gakpo
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:12Liverpool are straight on the attack! Salah finds himself in a familiar position on the edge of the box to the right and curls a ball towards the far post with the outside of his foot. He finds team-mates but the shot is blocked and cleared.
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:09We're back underway in Southampton!
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:09The teams are back out in St. Mary's - can either find the winner?
Southampton vs Liverpool
15:02Armstrong’s equaliser sees bottom-of-the-table Southampton hold league leaders Liverpool 1-1 at the break. The visitors dominated proceedings but struggled to produce high-quality chances. They were eventually gifted a goal in the 30th minute as Southampton attempted to play out from the back. Downes sent the ball straight to the feet of Szoboszlai who curled the ball with ease into the back of the net from the edge of the box. The introduction of Aribo instilled a new impetus to the Southampton attack, and a surging run from Dibling drew a penalty after Robertson tripped him at the edge of the box. While Armstrong saw his spot kick saved, he made no mistake with the rebound to put the hosts level. That penalty and chance saw Southampton race ahead on expected goals (xG), finishing the first half with a total of 1.02, while Liverpool sit on 0.59 xG at the break.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:53HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 LIVERPOOL
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:48Nunez goes down in the box and remains down long enough for Liverpool to put the ball out of play. Nunez is involved with some jostling between him and Stephens in the box and goes down but the check for a penalty is cleared.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:47There will be six minutes of added time in the first half.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:43The penalty stands! No evidence the contact stopped once Dibling moved into the box.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:43Penalty Miss Adam James Armstrong
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:43Penalty Save Caoimhín Odhrán Kelleher
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:42PENALTY TO SOUTHAMPTON! Dibling charges forward to the Liverpool box and Robertson steps forward but trips the player rather than the ball. It looks to be outside the box, though, and is being checked by VAR.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:41Southampton have conceded seven goals from individual errors so far this season, across Europe's top five league it's also the joint-highest tally alongside VfL Bochum. While both of Szoboszlai's two away Premier League goals have come against newly-promoted sides.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:38Substitution Adam David Lallana Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:36KELLEHER SAVES!! Southampton are trying to get themselves back on level terms here, and Downes nearly goes from zero to hero. The ball comes to him in the centre of the box and he manages to turn to get a snap shot off and test Kelleher from close range. The Irish keeper does superbly to react down to his right and palm out for a corner that comes to nothing.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:31Goal Dominik Szoboszlai
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:29McCarthy is seriously being tested here! Gakpo cuts in from the left before striking powerfully from the corner of the box to McCarthy's near post. The goalkeeper gets down well to save and Southampton just manage to get the resulting corner clear.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:28Liverpool are now leading comfortably for possession and expected goals (xG). The visitors boast a 60.5% share of possession and 0.29 xG compared to Southampton's 0.04 xG.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:25Yellow Card Adam David Lallana
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:23SAVED BY MCCARTHY! It's the same ball again from Gakpo out on the left. This time Fraser completely misjudges the flight, and the ball finds Salah at the back post. He fires a shot on goal, but it's from a tight angle at close range, and McCarthy does well to smother.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:21Gakpo fizzes a curling ball into the back post from just outside the box off the left. Salah is making the run to the right post but Fraser does well to clear before it gets to the Egyptian.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:18Yellow Card Ibrahima Konaté
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:18Bradley nearly makes up for it immediately. He exchanges a one-tow with Salah at the edge of the box to get in behind the Southampton defence at the right byline. His cross is across goal and tempting, but he hits a Southampton boot first. Szoboszlai tries his luck from distance but fires well over.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:14Possession is surprisingly well-balanced so far in this match as Liverpool marginally edge it on 52%.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:13Yellow Card Conor Bradley
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:11Armstrong goes down at the edge of the box, seemingly under a push from Konate. The referee awards a corner, but it is delayed as it goes to a VAR check. The check is complete as the push is deemed minimal contact. St. Mary's won't be happy with that, but it would have been harsh.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:08Now Szoboszlai charges towards the Southampton goal at the other end and he has support. He opts to spray the ball out to Salah on his right at the top of the box, who takes the shot from a tight angle, but McCarthy palms out for a corner which is subsequently dealt with.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:07The hosts are finding their feet in this match. Fernandes receives the ball in the centre circle before turning to burst down the centre of the pitch before striking from range. It's low and bobbling, but Kelleher saves well.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:04Liverpool are on the attack straight away down the right. Salah feeds Szoboszlai in at the byline who attempts a cheeky backheel to return the favour but it is just too far ahead of Salah on the corner of the box and is cleared by Southampton.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:02And we're underway on the south coast!
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:01The teams are out at St. Mary's as we approach kick-off in this Premier League clash.
Southampton vs Liverpool
14:00Slot opts for three changes from the side that defeated Villa as Bradley replaces the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Szoboszlai starts ahead of Mac Allister, and Gakpo replaces Diaz, who drops to the bench. Liverpool also remain without Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa, Alisson and Harvey Elliott. Jones also features after impressing with a debut goal for England over the international break.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:55Russell Martin has made five changes to the side that started against Wolves, his most from one match to another this season. McCarthy is set for his 150th Premier League appearance as Aaron Ramsdale is ruled out with a finger injury. Fraser also comes into the starting XI as Jan Bednarek represents another injury blow for Southampton in their defence. Downes, Dibling and Onuachu also all earn starts, with Manning, Archer and Aribo dropping to the bench. Walker-Peters is set for his 125th appearance in the top flight, while Harwood-Bellis returns fresh from a debut goal for England.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:45LIVERPOOL SUBS: Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Vitezslav Jaros, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, Harvey Davies.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:45LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Caoimhin Kelleher; Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley; Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones; Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah; Darwin Nunez.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:45SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Ryan Manning, Joe Aribo, Joe Lumley, James Bree, Yukinara Sugawara, Ben Brereton, Cameron Archer, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Lesley Ugochukwu.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:45SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Alex McCarthy; Ryan Fraser, Jack Stephens, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Kyle Walker-Peters; Mateus Fernandes, Adam Lallana, Flynn Downes, Tyler Dibling; Adam Armstrong, Paul Onuachu.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:40Liverpool, on the other hand, are the polar opposite, having only suffered one defeat and one draw all season. They have won four of their last five league matches, most recently triumphing 2-0 against Aston Villa at Anfield with goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez. A win over Southampton will see new Liverpool manager Arne Slot become the joint-fastest manager to reach 10 wins from the start of a Premier League career (12 games), alongside Guus Hiddink in May 2009 and Carlo Ancelotti in November 2009 (both with Chelsea). His side already sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League and could extend that to eight points with victory today.
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:40Hosts Southampton have just one win and one draw to their name so far this season, leaving them firmly rooted to the bottom of the table on just four points. Even a win today would not see them catch up with closest rivals Ipswich Town who sit four points above. That win did, however, come in their last home game when they defeated Everton 1-0 at St. Mary’s through Adam Armstrong 85th minute winner. Most recently they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Wolves. History equally doesn’t favour Southampton as they have won just one of their 14 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D3 L10).
Southampton vs Liverpool
13:35Hello and welcome to live text commentary of this top-versus-bottom Premier League clash as league leaders Liverpool travel to relegation-threatened Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium. We’ll be bringing you live updates throughout the match, including all the context you need before kick-off!
Southampton vs Liverpool
12:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
