League Cup action will resume this week as Southampton will welcome Liverpool in the first leg of the semi-final on Wednesday. Liverpool lost to Manchester City in the final last season and Klopp will be desperate to make it to the final and go one step better. On the other hand, Southampton have been poor of late and Claude Puel will be determined to win the domestic cup this season and add a silverware in his first season with the club.
Liverpool will head to Old Trafford on the weekend and Klopp will be in a big dilemma about the team selection on Wednesday. He used the youngsters on Sunday against Plymouth in the FA cup and failed to win the game which means that they will have to play rematch later this month. Southampton also faced a similar fortune as they could only salvage a 2-2 draw against Championship side Norwich City.
Both clubs have done well in their Cup run and will be looking to go all the way which is why this game has everything to be an entertainer. Here is the predicted Southampton lineup against Liverpool-
Defence
Fraser Forster will start under the bar in place of youngster Harry Lewis who started in the midweek. Cedric Soares is out injured right now which means that Cuco Martina will start at right-back. Virgil van Dijk will start at the heart of the defence alongside Maya Yoshida. Matt Targett is on the long-term injury list which means that Ryan Bertrand will start at left-back.
Midfield
Oriol Romeu has established himself as a key player under Claude Puel with his all-round display in the middle of the park. The Spaniard brings a solid defensive screen to the side and also sets up the foundation of the team from deep. He will start at the base of the 3-man midfield. Steven Davis will be an automatic choice in midfield in such a crucial game. The Northern Irishman will act as the prime playmaker for the Saints. James Ward-Prowse is likely to start in the middle of the park.
Attack
Sofiane Boufal is unavailable for the game as he is representing Morocco in the African Cup of Nations taking place in Gabon. In his absence, Dusan Tadic will start on the left flank. Nathan Redmond will start on the right flank. Jay Rodriguez should start ahead of Shane Long up front. Long has struggled for form this season while Rodriguez has done pretty well whenever he got his chance. So, Rodriguez will be the best choice.
