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Liverpool may have stumbled in the Premier League on Sunday, but the Reds are still well clear at the top of the pile.

It has been a terrific season for Arne Slot and his team, and all that is left to do is see things through to be crowned champions.

For other teams, the road has been far more difficult.



In an incredibly competitive Premier League, there is little room for mercy.

Those who are off the boil will be quickly punished – as Liverpool found out against Fulham – and none have been as bad as Southampton this season.

Remarkably, the Saints’ relegation has already been confirmed.

They’ll be playing Championship football again next season after losing 3-1 against Tottenham on Sunday.

And as they prepare for life in the second division, they’ll be doing so with former Liverpool title winner Adam Lallana on the coaching staff.

Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Having come up via the play-offs last season, it was always likely to be a difficult season for Southampton.

However, nobody had perhaps had them down to struggle quite as much as they have.

With seven games left, Saints are stuck on just 10 points.

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A change of manager may or may not have contributed to that, with the writing already on the wall by the time Ivan Juric was appointed in December.

Whether Juric could have done more or not, though, Southampton have announced that the Croatian has been relieved of his duties on Monday.

READ MORE: I saw ‘magnificent’ player prove he’s going to be a star for Liverpool next season despite Fulham loss

Interim manager Simon Rusk has been put in charge, with Lallana named as his assistant.

The former Liverpool man will be hoping to help guide Southampton to two more points in order to avoid recording the Premier League’s lowest ever points tally.

When Lallana joined Southampton from Brighton in 2024, he did so on a one-year contract.

Since then, the 36-year-old has made 18 appearances for his boyhood club, with injuries playing a part in a lack of game time.

Given Lallana will turn 37 in May, it seems unlikely that he will stay at St Mary’s for another season in the Championship.

Instead, perhaps the former Red will give coaching a go full-time.

Lallana has been spotted coaching England youth teams in the past and is clearly on the path to enter that world.

If he and Rusk can pick up some positive results, perhaps that will come sooner than expected.
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