Southampton host Liverpool on Sunday and are looking to keep their six-match unbeaten streak in all competitions going following last weekend’s victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Saints are unbeaten since a 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace in early January and in that time, have climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone and made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s men will desperate to keep their unbeaten streak going, with two points separating themselves from the relegation zone.
Saints are also unbeaten at St Mary’s against Liverpool since a heavy 6-1 defeat in the League Cup back in 2015, with two home wins and a draw in the last three meetings between the two sides on the south coast.
However, Saints have already faced Liverpool this season and were completely blown away by the attacking qualities that the Merseysiders had, in arguably one of their worst performances of the season, as the Reds came away with a 3-0 win.
Liverpool face FC Porto in the Champions League in midweek after this fixture, however, with no game the weekend after following their exit from the FA Cup, this should have less of a bearing on Jurgen Klopp’s choice for his starting XI on Sunday.
Ahead of the fixture, here is the side that I expect the opposition to field:
Loris Karius
Loris Karius has seemed to have cemented his place as Liverpool’s first choice goalkeeper for now.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold is having a good season by all accounts and with Nathanial Clyne still injured, the young full back should start.
Dejan Lovren
The Croat is much disliked on the South Coast following the way he handled his exit from Southampton back in 2014, however, he seems to be favoured by Jurgen Klopp ahead of Joel Matip.
Virgil van Dijk
The world’s most expensive defender is another former Saint who is likely to receive a frosty reception from the St Mary’s faithful, however, he is one of the best defenders in the league and fully expected to start.
Alberto Moreno
In a game which you expect Liverpool to dominate and look to be quick on the counter, I would expect Moreno to start over Robertson especially with a tricky tie against Porto coming up in midweek for the Reds.
Emre Can
Emre Can played really well against Spurs and I would expect him to retain his place.
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson returned to captain Liverpool against Spurs last weekend and is another who I would expect to retain his place.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Chamberlain is one of the many players who has left for big things, however he has never quite lived up to the potential he showed at St Mary’s. That being said, he’s made an excellent start to his Liverpool career bar a few early jitters and is highly likely to start.
Mohamed Salah
Simply undroppable.
Roberto Firmino
Firmino is having his best season in a Liverpool shirt and is by far the side’s undisputed starting striker.
Sadio Mane
We all know what Mane is capable and it would be a surprise to not to see him start.