Liverpool travel to Southampton tonight for the first leg of their League Cup semi-final (7.45pm kick-off).

The Reds go into this evening’s clash yet to win in 2017, having drawn at Sunderland in the Premier League on January 2 and then at home to Plymouth Argyle in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s side prior to the Sunderland draw had won four successive league games, with the likes of Everton and Manchester City coming unstuck against the Reds.

Nonetheless, they’ll find it tough at St Mary’s this evening against a Southampton side that don’t tend to lose at home – in fact, they lost just four times on the South Coast in the whole of 2016.

Two of those defeats did come in their final two home games of the year and, having suffered three defeats in six days over the festive period, confidence isn’t particularly high at the Hampshire club at present.

Thus, Klopp’s Liverpool would hope to take an advantage into the second leg at Anfield in a fortnight’s time, and here are THREE reasons why they’ll get the victory tonight…

Lost just one of last 23 matches

A 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth has been the only blemish on Liverpool’s record in the last few months.

Dating back to their 2-0 loss at Burnley on August 20, Klopp’s men have won 16 and drawn six of their 23 matches, which includes victories over Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton, and Manchester City.

Their 0-0 draw with Plymouth on Sunday was the first time they have failed to score since the stalemate draw at Southampton in the league back in November but, given that Klopp played a second string side, the Reds boss probably won’t read too much into that.

Liverpool have been excellent in the first half of the season and, although they have yet to win in 2017, their form this season suggests that they’ll get that elusive win sooner rather than later.

Could it be at St Mary’s tonight?

First teamers well-rested

Klopp’s ten changes ahead of their draw with Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday means that his first team regulars will be fresh for the trip to St Mary’s this evening.

The Reds, like the rest of the Premier League, played two games in three days at the turn of the year, but a number of his first teamers sat out the Plymouth game, with the likes of Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino brought off the bench but still spending little time on the pitch.

That means that most of them would not have played for nine days when they kick-off at St Mary’s this evening, and thus should be able to perform at their best against the Saints.

Klopp will have a well-rested and fully fit squad to choose from this evening, and he’ll know that if his side are at their fluent best, they’ll get the win at St Mary’s tonight.

Coutinho returns

Liverpool have been boosted in the last few days by the return to full fitness of playmaker Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian international sustained an ankle ligament injury against Sunderland at the end of November, and has missed the Reds’ last nine games.

However, manager Klopp confirmed in his press conference that the 24-year-old is available for selection, which will give everyone around the club a huge boost given the influence Coutinho has had on the team this season.

The attacker scored six times and laid on five assists in his 14 appearances prior to the Sunderland game, and when you’ve got a player with those figures available again, it’ll give the Southampton backline something else to think about.