Anfield was not as packed as Arne Slot had hoped it would be in the build-up to Liverpool's Premier League game against Southampton.

The Reds headed into the fixture as the clear favorite to record victory, but Slot had warned that the game wouldn't be easy, despite Southampton's lowly position in the standings.

Saints have been destined for relegation since the very start of the season and could yet end the campaign as the worst Premier League team of all time: they are currently on nine points — two fewer than Derby County picked up during its infamous 2007-08 season in the top flight.



Read More.

Southampton unwittingly helped Liverpool establish itself among world’s best - it wouldn’t happen now	Liverpool fans make their feelings clear on PSG hero within just minutes of Southampton game	Liverpool has major weapon emerging at ideal time as Arne Slot gets exactly what he demanded

With the game falling between a pair of Champions League meetings with Paris Saint-Germain, and the Carabao Cup final also on the horizon, Slot seemingly felt that there was a risk that the atmosphere might be a little flat against Southampton, considering most people expected that Liverpool would win with ease.

He pleaded with fans to pack Anfield well in advance of of the game, but a video shared on social media showed that there were still tens of thousands of empty seats as kickoff approached.

Slot, who is serving a touchline ban, had said: “I have to convince my players that we play three finals [against Southampton, PSG and Liverpool] like I said a few times, and I’m hoping, and that’s why every time I come up with the word final, that I influence our fans a bit as well, that they understand how important they’re going to be tomorrow.

“So I’m hoping they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kickoff

I’m hoping they are already, the whole stadium is already completely filled half an hour before kickoff.

“And that these players get the reward for what they did in Paris for working so hard

Sometimes when I look at social media, I see these songs coming for Lucho and for Virgil and for Macca, and they are really creative in these songs.

“Now, let’s hear them before the game tomorrow, although I’m in the stands