Top of the table Liverpool will travel to the South Coast on Saturday to take on Southampton. The Saints are tenth in the table right now and have had an up and down season so far in the Premier League whereas Liverpool are on a real high. They are scoring for fun this season and have scored an incredible 30 goals from just 11 games so far. Klopp will hope that the international break will not disrupt his team’s form.
There are a lot of clubs who struggle to find their feet after the international break and Liverpool have a poor record in such games. Playing away at Southampton just after the international break will test the Reds’ title credentials. This will be an emotional outing for Liverpool’s in-form winger Sadio Mane as he will face, for the first time, his former employers. Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne are also likely to start against their former club but Adam Lallana is likely to miss out with a minor injury.
Claude Puel’s side have slipped down to 10th place in the league table after two back to back defeats against Chelsea and Hull City and will be keen to bounce back to winning ways.
Team news
Southampton
Southampton’s injury concerns have eased off during the international break. Keeper Fraser Forster, midfielder duo Dusan Tadic and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg along with fullbacks Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares are expected to be fit enough to take part in Saturday’s clash. Shane Long and Matt Targett are out with hamstring injuries but Alex McCarthy is doubtful. Defender Florin Gardos is back in light training sessions following his long-term knee injury. Youngster Harrison Reed is out with a knock. Defender Jeremy Pied is out for the remainder of the campaign with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.
Liverpool
Adam Lallana is likely to miss out with an injury. Philippe Coutinho is also a major doubt for the game. Danny Ings out for the rest of the season. Youngsters Sheyi Ojo and Joe Gomez are back from injuries but won’t be forced to the starting XI.
Starting lineups
Southampton (4-3-3): Forster; Soares, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand; Davis, Romeu, Clasie; Tadic, Austin, Redmond
Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Origi
Key players
Southampton- Charlie Austin
Austin has been in amazing goalscoring form this season and will be a big threat to the Liverpool defence with his aerial abilities.
Liverpool- Roberto Firmino
With Adan Lallana out and Coutinho also probably out, Firmino has to ensure that he plays out of his skin against the Saints.
Odds
Southampton: 11/5
Draw: 11/5
Liverpool: 6/5
