There will be a minimum of four minutes added time which, in all truth, seems somewhat excessive. From Southampton's point of view, they will want this game over and done with as quickly as possible.
89'
D. Lovren enters the game and replaces Mohamed Salah.
A final change from the visitors, as the excellent Mohamed Salah makes way. Dejan Lovren is on, and that gives the Southampton faithful another opportunity to boo one of their former favourites.
87'
Southampton look rather devoid of ideas now, and are resorting to hopeful balls from deep. Liverpool look comfortable, and at the moment are cruising towards all three points.
85'
CHANCE! Superb interplay from Liverpool in a tight area sees Salah prod a delicate pass into Lallana, but he is unable to apply the finish against his old club.
82'
Karius is finally called into action to come and punch Cedric's cross away from danger. He doesn't manage to get much power on it, but fortunately for Liverpool, Lallana was on hand to take control of the situation.
80'
S. Davis enters the game and replaces Oriol Romeu.
A third and final switch for Southampton. Steven Davis is on, replacing Oriol Romeu.
79'
A. Lallana enters the game and replaces Roberto Firmino.
In fact, that will be Roberto Firmino’s final action of the game. The Brazilian makes way having scored and claimed an assist. His replacement - to another chorus of boos - is former Southampton captain Adam Lallana.
78'
Unusually slack play from Firmino who, despite having Alexander-Arnold in support to his right in acres of space, elects to try and pick out Mane with a difficult pass, and the attack breaks down.
76'
CLOSE! Firmino threads a pinpoint through ball in between Southampton’s lines. Wijnaldum could have taken it on, but instead leaves it for Mane, who has to adjust his feet before unleashing a powerful strike that sails just wide.
74'
A great series of blocks from Southampton’s defence there, to deny first Mane and then Milner following a swift Liverpool counter.
Minute
Description
73'
Long will add pace and tenacity to Southampton’s attack, but so far today, the Saints midfield has lacked the incision or guile to open up Liverpool’s defence. The best chances for the hosts in the first half came from crosses into the box, and Pellegrino should be instructing his side to get down the flanks whenever possible.
71'
S. Long enters the game and replaces J. Ward-Prowse.
Another change now for Southampton, as Shane Long replaces James Ward-Prowse. The hosts need to create something soon if they are to haul themselves back into this.
70'
CHANCE! Mane drives into the box down the left before cutting it back to Firmino. His shot is well saved by McCarthy, but the rebound falls out to Salah. This time, though, the Egyptian can only find the side-netting.
68'
The Reds haven’t conceded in any of their last three Premier League games against Southampton. In fact the last player to score against them for the Saints was Sadio Mane in March 2016.
66'
Boufal’s introduction has not changed the course of this game as of yet, and Liverpool look comfortable. The Reds work a move down the right, with Milner’s cross headed out into the path of Can, but his effort is nowhere near the target.
63'
That’s high and wide from Wijnaldum, who miraculously is still hunting his first Premier League goal away from home. This is the Dutch midfielder’s 50th away appearance in the league.
62'
Oriol Romeu gets yellow.
Romeu becomes the first Southampton player to go into the book.
60'
J. Milner enters the game and replaces A. Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Klopp makes a change now, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain making way for James Milner.
59'
CLOSE! Ward-Prowse curls in a wonderful free-kick from the left, which Hoedt connects with at the near post. The former Lazio man can only turn his volley wide, though.
57'
S. Boufal enters the game and replaces M. Lemina.
Indeed, Southampton's boss has now utilised his first change. Mario Lemina's day has come to an end now. He makes way for Sofiane Boufal.
54'
Liverpool are pressing high, and that is pinning Southampton back into their own half. Pellegrino must be looking to his bench soon, or this game is only heading one way.
51'
Southampton’s number 18 is quickly involved again, as he closes down Mane’s acrobatic effort. The rebound falls to Salah, but he sends his strike into the crowd. Meanwhile, Cedric does not appear to be moving too freely.
49'
Lemina is down again now, though this time it does not appear that the midfielder is injured, but rather ill, instead. The medical staff are consulting with him on the pitch, but it looks as though he will try and continue.
47'
E. Can gets yellow.
Frustration now for Southampton, as Can’s loose touch is capitalised on by Romeu. Can dives in, scything down the Spaniard, but he managed to retain possession with three team-mates in support. For some reason, though, referee Martin Atkinson does not play the advantage.
46'
We're back up and running at St. Mary's...
44'
Well, just as the Saints had built some momentum, it looks as if Liverpool could well have put this game beyond them prior to half-time.
42'
Mohamed Salah has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by Roberto Firmino.
Southampton’s defence gave Salah too much time on the edge of the area, and his ball into Firmino enabled the Brazilian to back-heel it into Salah’s path. That’s Firmino’s 11th assist of the campaign.
WHAT A GOAL! That is simply brilliant from Liverpool, as Firmino and Sarah combine once more to carve open Southampton’s defence. The Egypt forward slipped a neat pass into Liverpool’s number nine, who returned the favour with a sublime flick, and Salah duly rounded the move off in style.
40'
That’s poor from Ward-Prowse. Again, he is left free at the back post from a Bertrand cross, but this time he should have picked out a team-mate instead of going for goal. The youngster chose to head it at the target, however, but his effort was a tame one and straight at Karius.
37'
J. Matip gets yellow.
A booking now for Matip, who got too tight to Tadic and allowed the Serbian to roll him before bringing him down.
36'
Van Dijk has to react sharply there, as Liverpool’s sloppy defence allows Lemina to nod the ball back into a glut of Southampton players. Fortunately the Dutchman was there to intervene, before the linesman’s flag indicates that the Saints’ attackers were offside.
34'
Robertson finds space down the left and cuts in a low, inviting cross that flashes into the six-yard box, but no Liverpool attacker had gambled on it.
33'
CHANCE! Great defending from Cedric, who scampers over to prevent Mane having a free run on goal, forcing the Senegal winger to prod his rushed effort wide.
31'
A pause in the play now, as Lemina goes following a challenge from Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Southampton midfielder looks set to continue, though.
30'
SAVE! Karius is swiftly called into action again, as this time Robertson is left exposed from Bertrand’s cross at the back post. Ward-Prowse meets it with a powerful header, but the German goalkeeper is well-placed to tip the ball over.
29'
CLOSE! Great play from Southampton down the right results in Ward-Prowse putting in a brilliant cross. Carrillo, having pulled onto Alexander-Arnold, wins his header, but can’t generate the power to beat Karius.
27'
STAT - There has been just one goal scored in the last two meetings between these sides in all competitions at St. Mary’s – in the two before that, there were 12 goals scored.
25'
Liverpool seem to have come through the worst of that Southampton pressure now, and the visitors are now exerting some authority on the ball. A long ball from Van Dijk is knocked into Firmino, who combines with Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain to get into the box before going down under pressure from Hoedt, but the referee rightly waves away the penalty appeals.
22'
Klopp has won 49 of his 94 Premier League games in charge. A victory today will make him the 45th different manager to record 50 wins in the competition, and he'll be the ninth fastest to do so in terms of games.
20'
Southampton are applying some real pressure now, with Bertrand a constant threat down the left side. The Saints are moving the ball quickly, though with Liverpool’s potency on the counter, Pellegrino’s side must be cautious with how much space they allow behind their defensive line.
18'
CHANCE! Good goalkeeping from Karius, who is off his line quickly to close down Hojbjerg’s strike, after the Danish midfielder had latched onto Romeu’s excellent pass.
17'
Despite Liverpool’s ideal start to this one, Klopp will be wary of Southampton’s form against his side heading into today’s clash. The German has only won two of his previous eight games against the Saints as Liverpool boss, losing three and drawing three. And the hosts are certainly offering more of a threat now.
14'
Firmino has now scored 20 goals in all competitions this season. It’s the first time the forward has achieved that feat since scoring 22 goals for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in the 2013-14 campaign.
12'
Boos are ringing around the ground any time Van Dijk gets on the ball, but the Dutchman has only just been asked to do some defending - as he cuts-out Bertrand’s cross at the near post.
10'
James Ward-Prowse has been in fine form for Southampton lately, and his set-piece delivery could well be key if the hosts are to get back into this game. He has an early chance to whip one in from the left flank now, but his cross is dealt with easily.
8'
Southampton ended their 12-game winless run last week, and are looking to secure back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since April 2017, but they look like they are up against it now. Liverpool have only lost one of their last 17 Premier League games prior to today, winning 11 and drawing five.
6'
Roberto Firmino has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by Mohamed Salah.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL LEAD! Well, that didn’t take long. The Reds - donning a luminous orange strip today - are allowed to break at pace down the right. Hoedt gets across to intercept Oxlade-Chamberalin’s pass, but makes a mess of it, allowing Salah to nip in and tee up Firmino, who makes no mistake with a composed first-time finish.
It was torrid defending from Hoedt, who completely swiped at his clearance. Salah was in the right place, however, and had the wits to pick out Firmino with a clever pass.
4'
Sloppy play from Southampton, as Hoedt gets caught out by Lemina’s heavy pass. Firmino is quickly onto it, but Hoedt recovers to ensure McCarthy is able to get there before the Brazil forward.
3'
Van Dijk is of course not the only former Southampton star among Liverpool’s squad today. Sadio Mane was a key figure in Ronald Koeman’s Saints side, while Lovren and Adam Lallana left the south coast for Anfield in 2014. Oxlade-Chamberlain, of course, started his career at St. Mary's before joining Arsenal.
1'
KICK-OFF! Southampton get proceedings underway.
Hello and welcome football fans, to LIVE coverage of Sunday’s final Premier League fixture, with Southampton welcoming Liverpool to St. Mary’s Stadium.
However, both sides will be hoping to put any remnants of that particular transfer saga behind them today. Southampton - unbeaten in their last five league games - are vitally in need of a victory to propel them away from the relegation places, while Liverpool would move back into third place with a win.
It's as you were for Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino sticking with the side that started in the 3-2 victory over West Brom last time out in the league. That means there’s a full home debut for Guido Carrillo, who arrived from Monaco in January.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Liverpool substitutes: Lovren, Milner, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Ings, Solanke.
We’re almost ready for kick-off now at a packed St. Mary’s. Given Newcastle United’s win over Manchester United at St. James’ Park, the Saints have now dropped into the bottom three, while Liverpool will know that a victory would take them within two points of Jose Mourinho’s men.
HALF-TIME: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2.
A clinical display from Liverpool so far, who despite not being at their sharpest, have cut through Southampton with ease when they have stepped it up - Firmino and Salah doing the damage.
In between the goals early on and late in that first half, it has to be said that Southampton were on top, with Karius having to be alert to maintain the Reds’ lead.
Salah has now been directly involved in 29 Premier League goals this season - 22 goals, 7 assists. It's the most by a Liverpool player in their debut season for the club in the competition.
The return of Virgil Van Dijk to the south coast is undoubtedly the biggest story heading into this clash. The Dutchman joined Liverpool from Southampton in January for a reported world-record fee for a defender.
Three changes in total from Jurgen Klopp, who shows no hesitation in throwing Van Dijk into the action against his former club, although Dejan Lovren - who was at the heart of the drama in the Reds’ draw with Tottenham last week - drops out. Joel Matip is the replacement, while Jordan Henderson and James Milner make way for Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain respectively.
FULL TIME: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2.
While Southampton will now focus on their FA Cup clash with West Brom on Saturday, Liverpool’s attention will switch to the Champions League tie with Porto coming up in midweek.
It means that Southampton stay rooted in the relegation zone, while Liverpool are up into third place, two points behind Manchester United.
It’s all over at St. Mary’s, as first-half goals from Firmino and Salah prove enough for Liverpool, with Klopp claiming his 50th Premier League win in the process.
Well, that’s all from me for now. Until next time, thank you for tuning in, and goodbye!
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