Off the back of a disappointing and frustrating result and second half performance against Leicester last Saturday, Southampton turn their attention to playing Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, in Jurgen Klopp’s first Premier League home game in front of the supporters.
Liverpool are currently in 10th place in the Premier League after a very rocky start to the season; much like opponents Southampton. After a poor start to the campaign, The Saints have picked up their form since strengthening the defence and growing in confidence, leaving them in 8th place.
Southampton will be hopeful of getting a result at Anfield, after a hugely disappointing and underwhelming second half performance against Leicester, conceding two sloppy goals at the hands of Jamie Vardy in the second half, to earn the Foxes a second half draw. However, Liverpool haven’t exactly been setting the world alight with exceptional performances under the management of Klopp as of yet, and they will also hope to secure a big first three points under the German. The Reds will hope to improve on their recent performances, after a 0-0 away draw to Tottenham last Saturday, and a 1-1 Europa League home draw to 10-man Rubin Kazan on Thursday evening.
Looking to the game, Southampton have no new injury worries to take into consideration, apart from Shane Long who missed last week’s draw against Leicester and is set to miss the next month or so due to an ankle injury he sustained whilst on international duty. Maarten Stekelenburg will return to the Southampton squad, and most likely start, after being ruled out of the Leicester match due to a back spasm sustained in training last Friday.
For Liverpool, Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino will return to the squad after making substitute appearances against Rubin Kazan midweek, but Jurgen Klopp still has several injury worries amongst his squad. Injury-prone striker Daniel Sturridge was expected to come back into the Liverpool side this Sunday; however Klopp has stated that the Englishman is ‘doubtful’. Jordan Henderson, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Jon Flanagan and Jordan Rossiter are all also ruled out of Sunday’s match against The Saints.
Although there has not been too many standout performers for Liverpool so far this season, it goes without saying that they have a wealth of talent amongst them and their squad is strong enough and creative enough to cause Southampton some real problems on Sunday. One of these threats to The Saints on Sunday will be the quite brilliant Phillipe Coutinho. The Brazilian’s real class showed through last season, winning games almost single-handedly for Brendan Rodgers and keeping Liverpool in and around the European slots. Although he has not hit the ground running this season as such, already picking up an uncharacteristic red card, Coutinho has enough about him to seriously hurt Southampton, as he did at St. Mary’s for Liverpool last season with a thunderous 30-yard strike.
For Southampton, on the other hand, a big performance is required from Sadio Mane. The Senegalese forward did not have one of his greatest games last week against Leicester, but he’ll be feeling fresher ahead of this Sunday’s affair with Liverpool. Many Southampton fans will recall the home game against The Reds last season, where Mane was late to arrive for the match and was therefore dropped by Ronald Koeman for the on loan Filip Djuricic; a costly mistake in hindsight. However, Mane will be fully fit and ready to take on Liverpool and show his class yet again with another glittering performance against a big team. Southampton will look to Mane to source their attacks and to carry the team forward in a game that chances could be quite rare for the visiting side, given the momentum that Liverpool could carry under Klopp in his first Premier League home game.
A victory for The Saints could take them up to 5th place in the league, as well as Liverpool as the highest they will rise to with three points is to 5th; like Southampton. It would be a wonderful moment for Ronald Koeman and his Southampton side if they can complete yet another momentous victory over a big club away from home, and the same can be said for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp; and we all know what a win would mean to him and the Liverpool fans.
Do you think Southampton can defy the odds with a big win at Anfield?
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