After the 4-1 thumping that they handed to West Ham United a fortnight ago resulting in the sacking of the Hammers' manager Slaven Bilic, Liverpool returns to Premier League actions. The Reds will be hosting Southampton on Saturday at Anfield in a game that could see the hosts climb to the Champions League spot should Chelsea lose its match. The Reds are aware that failure to win the match could give Arsenal and Burnley who have the same points as Liverpool, an opportunity to overtake Jurgen Klopp's men in the Premier League standings.
Southampton head into the match after a narrow 1-0 home loss to Burnley two weeks ago and a further loss to Liverpool could push the Saints to the edge of the relegation zone.
Southampton is currently placed in position thirteen in the league standings with 13 points, and a win could propel the Saints to position eight depending on the outcome of other teams.
Talking points
- Liverpool has maintained a tight defense keeping six clean sheets in the last seven Premier League games played at Anfield. On the other hand, Southampton has kept clean sheets against Liverpool in the last four matches in all competitions.
- The contests pitting Liverpool and Southampton have realized few goals with the last four encounters realizing less than three goals in all competitions. However, the last three matches Liverpool has played have seen a minimum of three goals on each occasion.
- Liverpool remains unbeaten in the last seven Premier League home matches, but the Reds have failed to record any victory against Southampton in the previous five meetings in all competitions.
- The last three meetings between Liverpool and Southampton have witnessed low scoring as the overall number goals have remained below three each time the two teams play.
- Liverpool has had the tendency of recruiting players from St. Mary's in the recent past. Sadio Mane, Nathaniel Clyne, and Adam Lallana are all former Southampton players. In fact, Liverpool attempted to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk in the summer a botched deal.
Match news
The Merseyside club will be delighted to welcome back Saidio Mane who has stayed out of action for his club for a long time due to a hamstring injury he pulled in the past.
However, the Senegalese international returned early to Liverpool from international duty with his national team due to a reoccurring hamstring which makes him doubtful for the Saturday's league fixture.
Adam Bogdan and Nathaniel Clyne are automatic absentees for the home match against the Saints. However, the England international has returned to training but will miss the contest due to his unfitness status.
Liverpool will be boosted by the return of Philippe Coutinho who has missed the Reds' last three matches, but the midfielder was involved in national duties with Brazil early in the week. Also, Jordan Henderson who pulled out of England squad with an injury during the international break is doubtful for the contest.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino will automatically miss the services of Jeremy Pied who is out with an injury, but Mario Lemina who stayed out in the Saints' last two matches remains doubtful for the trip to Anfield. Other than the two cases, Pellegrino has the rest of his team for selection.
Full-time prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Southampton