After dropping two straight before the international break, Southampton will look to come out of St Mary’s with points against league-leading Liverpool.
Last time out, Southampton blew an early 1-0 lead against Hull City to go down 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium. Liverpool, meanwhile, completed its ascendancy with a thumping 6-1 victory over Watford at Anfield. Former Saint Sadio Mane notched a brace in that match, bringing his goal total on the year to six.
In all, four former Southampton players are likely to make the team sheet for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool; in addition to Mane, who joined this summer, academy graduate Adam Lallana and defenders Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne should see action.
Despite their ties to the South Coast, the ex-Saints should expect no welcome homecoming in a match that’s become something of a rivalry game over the years, owing to the perception of Southampton as Liverpool’s “feeder club” by some fans of the latter.
In the clubs’ last meeting, the Saints squeaked by 3-2 on two goals from Mane, but the overall record strongly favors Liverpool, who have won 50 of the 100 total matches between the clubs, to Southampton’s 28. Of the last 10 meetings, the Saints have done slightly better, winning 4.
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Claude Puel’s team, which saw 12 players out on international duty, welcomes back Ryan Bertrand and Cédric from injury, a much-needed boost to a back four likely to be tested early and often. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and keeper Fraser Forster are both match-fit after early exits from the internationals, while Dusan Tadic is expected to be okay after a nasty facial injury turned out to look worse than it was.
Liverpool will likely miss the services of joint-leading scorer Philippe Coutinho, who has notched the Reds six goals and another six assists; former Saint Adam Lallana is a game-time decision with a groin injury.
Speaking ahead of the match, manager Claude Puel was optimistic, telling club media he’s confident his team can hang with the Premier League leaders.
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“It’s a very strong team, with great players and a good trainer. They are full of confidence because of the good results, but I think we can battle with them,” Puel said in his pregame press conference earlier this week. “As a collective, we can do well.”
Recently-returned Cédric echoed his boss’s sentiments, telling club media that the team would “fight with everything” to take much-needed points at home.
On the other side, Jurgen Klopp heaped praise upon the Saints, calling them “the biggest surprise for me again” in reference to the club’s seemingly-perpetual rebuilding.
“They did, again, an unbelievable job,” Klopp told the press ahead of tomorrow’s match. “Their scouting is obviously really, really good.”
Preston’s Pick: Liverpool 2-1 Southampton