Relegation-battling Southampton is rumoured to be considering a second managerial switch of the season as it gears up to face Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend. The Reds welcome the team currently rooted to the foot of the table to Anfield on Saturday.
The Saints have managed to scrape together just nine points from their 27 matches so far this campaign and find themselves a daunting 13 points away from safety, needing three more points to avoid equalling Derby County’s record low tally of 11 points in 2007/08.
Liverpool, on the other hand, sits comfortably 13 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League. However, the Reds have played one match more than their title contenders.
Southampton has already made one managerial change this season. Russell Martin was given his marching orders in mid-December after managing only one win and two draws in the league. He was swiftly succeeded by ex-Torino and AS Roma boss Ivan Juric, but the move hasn’t panned out as the Saints board would have hoped.
In his 10 league matches at the helm, Juric has tasted victory just once, with that win coming against fellow relegation candidates Ipswich Town. Every other match has resulted in defeat, including consecutive 4-0 drubbings at the hands of Brighton and Chelsea in his side’s most recent fixtures. This run of form has sparked rumours about Juric’s future just three months into his tenure.
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As per talkSPORT, the manager’s rapport with several members of the Saints squad is reportedly ‘increasingly strained’. It’s been hinted that a break clause in the manager’s 18-month contract is likely to be triggered come summer, with the club already scouting for potential successors.
Sheffield Wednesday’s gaffer Danny Rohl is one name being bandied about as a possible replacement but it remains to be seen if he would take the job at this stage.
Liverpool has already beaten Southampton twice this season but neither victory was routine. The Reds needed a late Mohamed Salah penalty to secure three points at St Mary’s back in November,
The two sides also met in the Carabao Cup fifth round the following month as Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott scored in a 2-1 success.
