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Southampton: Mario Lemina to miss Liverpool game through injury

By Chris Hughes

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Mario Lemina of Southampton attempts to get past Peter Crouch of Stoke City during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Southampton at Bet365 Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Mario Lemina of Southampton attempts to get past Peter Crouch of Stoke City during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Southampton at Bet365 Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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In his pre-match press conference earlier today, Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino confirmed that the midfielder is not fit to play.

The Gabonese international missed the Saints’ most recent fixture – a 1-0 loss to Burnley – in order to not be rushed back before his return to full fitness. The midfielder was also absent for the draw with Brighton after initially suffering the setback.

It was believed that time to recover over the international break would suffice, but Pellegrino has seemingly deemed the 24-year-old unfit to feature. He confirmed this at his pre-match presser for the Liverpool game on Saturday.

"“Mario Lemina was training well, much better than before, but he will not be ready to play Saturday.  We look at his problem three weeks ago and he’s improved a lot. But it is too soon to put him on the pitch.”  – Pellegrino"

What remains unclear is whether Lemina will also be absent for the games against Everton and Manchester City –  both of which come before the turn of the month.

Related Story: Mane faces late fitness test

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton looks on prior to the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton looks on prior to the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images) /

The news has naturally not been met well by the Southampton supporters, with Lemina’s presence offering the Saints their best chance of getting a result against Liverpool this weekend.

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Adam Lallana’s return to the midfield for the Reds offers them another dimension and more intensity than they would of had without him. Gini Wijnaldum and Emre Can are both talented footballers but even Southampton fans will admit that Lallana is a grade above.

The work of Steven Davis and Oriol Romeu in the middle of the park will have become doubly important following Pellegrino’s injury news. It remains unclear how the Saints will set-up but a narrow diamond seems the most obvious answer at this point.

If James Ward-Prowse is to come in then he too would have an important role in stopping Liverpool’s locomotive midfield trio.

The entire Southampton fanbase will be eager for the Gabonese midfielder to return to the full fitness as soon as possible, with the Saints failing to muster a positive result without him. Lemina was solid against Manchester United, the only ‘big team’ the Saints have faced before this week’s match-up with Jurgen Klopp’s team.

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