Match Preview – Liverpool vs Southampton

Date 25-10-16 – Venue – Anfield – Kick-Off – 4.15pm (UK Time)

Team News

Liverpool look set to be without star man Daniel Sturridge for the second consecutive week as he recovers from a knee injury. Klopp suggested in his press conference yesterday that his involvement in the game would depend on how and if Sturridge trained today.

Klopp said: “If he can train tomorrow completely normal, then he’s an option, because the break is not too long, then maybe not as a starter, but he’s an option. We have to wait for this” 

Their is good news for Liverpool as Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino are in line for a return to starting line up following injury set backs of their own.

As for Southampton they also have problems in the forward areas, Shane Long will miss the game with a thigh injury, whilst Jay Rodriguez is also a doubt, but Maarten Stekelenburg and full back Cedric are fit to play.

Match Preview

Both Liverpool and Southampton come into this game in indifferent form. Southampton threw away 3 points at home to Leicester in their last game after winning their previous two, whilst Liverpool fought hard to pick up a point away to Spurs in Jurgen Klopps first game in charge of the Anfield club. The result left Klopp’s side 10th in the Premier League table with just goal difference separating themselves with Southampton in 8th place.

Liverpool star man Phillipe Coutinho has had a recent dip in form and everyone involved at the club will be hoping he can return to his best as he is crucial if Liverpool are to make a challenge for the Champions league places. Victor Wanyama will be tasked with the job of keeping him quite and the Kenyan international has started the recapture his best form after an unsettled start to the season.

Lots has been made of how Liverpool’s style changed so dramatically last week at White Hart Lane, with Klopp’s preferred gengenpressing style instantly seeming to have affect. However on Thursday evening in the Europa League it appeared that Liverpool of the start of the season had returned, something Saints boss Ronald Koeman also observed in his press conference yesterday:

“I was surprised at the performance against Tottenham last week. It looked like a different Liverpool, it was good high pressing. Yesterday was very different but as a new manager, you need time to put everything together as you would like.”

Southampton will know that if they can score at Anfield, then they have an excellent chance of going home with at least a point as liverpool have only scored more than once in a game on just the single occasion this season.

With Liverpool still adapting to a new style of play and Southampton being a well drilled outfit, the draw does appear to be the obvious result. Klopp however will hope his players can improve on what they have done in their previous two games under his stewardship and play with more freedom than they have done in recent months enabling them to pick up all three points. Koeman will though be more than happy if his side come away from Anfield with a point.