By Gary Fulcher.
Liverpool begin a sequence of three consecutive away games with the Capital One Cup quarter-final tie against Southampton on Wednesday evening; 7.45pm kick off UK time. The Reds are in good form having won three in a row – 4-1 at Man City, 2-1 at home to Bordeaux and 1-0 against Swansea at Anfield – and will be looking to progress to the semi-finals for the second season in a row.
Ronald Koeman’s Southampton have lost their last two in the league – 0-1 at home to Stoke and 1-3 at Man City – but prior to those defeats had been unbeaten in eight with six wins and two draws. Their progress to the quarter-finals has been at the expense of Milton Keynes Dons (6-0 away) in the third round and Aston Villa (2-1 at home) in the fourth round. Liverpool have overcome Carlisle Utd in round three and Bournemouth in round four, both at Anfield.
This will be the seventh meeting in this competition between Liverpool and Southampton. Their first encounter came during the 1960/61 campaign in the third round, with Southampton claiming a 2-1 win at Anfield. 11 years later the sides met again at Anfield in the third round, this time Liverpool progressing with a 1-0 victory. The sides met again during the 1986/87 campaign in the semi-finals. The first leg ended 0-0 at the Dell with Liverpool victorious in the second leg at Anfield, winning 3-0. The next tie came during the 1999/00 season at the third round stage at the Dell, this time the Saints progressing with a 2-1 victory. Three years later the sides met once again at the third round stage – this time at Anfield – with Liverpool eliminating Southampton 3-1.
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