Liverpool will be looking to extend their Premier League winning streak and consolidate their place at the top of the table when they visit Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday. Last season there were three fixtures between these two teams, first a 1-1 draw at Anfield Road in the league, then a spectacular 6-1 victory for Liverpool in the League Cup, and finally a 3-2 victory for the Saints at St Mary's. Liverpool ahave won three of the last five competitive matches against Southampton.
Southampton are far from showing the kind of form that granted them a Europa League qualification finish last season. They are not really threatened by relegation at the moment, but they are not looking capable of more than a mid-table placement. Before the international break, they lost 2-1 at Hull City, their second consecutive Premier League defeat after a 2-0 home loss against Chelsea. Manager Claude Puel has lots of players out injured, including Shane Long, Jake Hesketh, Alex McCarthy, Matt Targett, Harrison Reed and Jeremy Pied. Dusan Tadic, Ryan Bertrand and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are fitness doubts.
Liverpool are top of the table after three consecutive Premier League wins, but manager Jurgen Klopp urged his players to remain focus and not think about the title yet. The Reds hammered Watford 6-1 before the international break, a second consecutive high-scoring match after a 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 matches, 10 of which were won. Jurgen Klopp can also enjoy an almost fully fit squad, with only Danny Ings out injured. Sheyi Ojo and Joe Gomez have returned to training but they might need extra time as they are coming from lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Probable line-ups:
Southampton: Forster - Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, McQueen - Clasie, Romeu, Davis - Tadic, Austin, Boufal
Liverpool: Karius - Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner - Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can - Mane, Firmino, Coutinho
My prediction: Liverpool to win 3-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Southampton win - 3.50
Draw - 3.60
Liverpool win - 2.05
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Comments (1)
sharpe
11/24/16, 12:11:10 AM
This 0-0 was like a break for the Liverpool ambitions but nothing so bad happened for them I think. Probably Liverpool's side have to be more mature and trying...
This 0-0 was like a break for the Liverpool ambitions but nothing so bad happened for them I think. Probably Liverpool's side have to be more mature and trying win games like these 1-0, after that 6-1 previous week. It's well known fact that the cups are won not by the most shiny or fancy team but from those who are more consistent, we'll see if Liverpool is ready for that, I'm still not sure.
Show more
