Liverpool vs Southampton Preview

Southampton face Liverpool on Sunday as the Saints travel to Anfield- which by now seems like their ‘second home’ due to many of their star players from last season now at Liverpool. With 3 of their former players- Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert among the Liverpool ranks, Southampton would really want to repeat last time’s feat having won 1-0 at Anfield courtesy Lovren’s headed goal. But with a lot of quality additions to their squad, Liverpool would not be an easy force to deal with for the Saints.

Gerrard

TEAM NEWS

LIVERPOOL

Brendan Rodgers tried different formations during pre-season, but is likely to start with a 4-3-3 on Sunday. Upfront, Daniel Sturridge is almost certain to be handed the striker role with ex-Southampton striker Rickie Lambert providing cover. Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho are expected to take the flank roles, with new signings Adam Lallana ruled out until Mid-September due to a knee injury and Lazar Markovic likely to be handed a bench role as he recovers from a knock suffered in pre-season.

New signing Emre Can is likely to partner Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson in the midfield three, with Joe Allen an option as well.

At full-back, new recruit Alberto Moreno will be unavailable for the season opener due to incomplete paperwork while Jon Flanagan is a major doubt after flying home from the Reds’ US Friendly tour with a knee injury. The young loanee from Atletico Madrid, Javier Manquillo, is likely to get the nod at right-back, with either of Glen Johnson or fit again Jose Enrique slotting in at left-back.

Dejan Lovren is certain to take one of the two centre-back spots with Martin Skrtel likely to edge out Mamadou Sakho in the remaining spot. Daniel Agger misses out again with injury and seems unlikely to feature again for Liverpool, as speculations regarding his exit strengthen. At the back, Simon Mignolet is nailed on after Pepa Reina’s move to Bayern Munich.

If Rodgers decide to go for a 4-4-2 diamond instead, Emre Can is likely to make way for Rickie Lambert.

SOUTHAMPTON

Southampton has been kept busy over the transfer window with a lot of ins and outs. New manager Ronald Koeman is likely to start with a 4-3-3, as evident from pre-season.

New signing and England international, Fraser Forster is likely to replace the excellent yet aging Artur Boruc in front of the posts. At the heart of the defence, the new club captain Jose Fonte will be partnered by Japanese international Maya Yoshida with new signing Florin Gardos still 2-3 weeks away from full fitness according to Koeman. Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand would slot in at right-back and left-back respectively, with youth product Matt Targett pushing Bertrand hard for the left-back berth.

As per Koeman’s press conference, Morgan Schneiderlin has joined training and if that is indeed true, he will be in contention for the 3 midfield spots along with Victor Wanyama, Steven Davis, Jack Cork, James Ward-Prowse and Saphir Taider.

Rickie Lambert’s replacement Graziano Pelle should start upfront with DusanTadic and Gaston Ramirez on either wings. Ramirez is a slight concern recovering from a knock, and in his absence Lloyd Isgrove would step in. This week’s signing Shane Long is likely to feature off the bench.

STYLE OF PLAY EXPECTED:

Southampton will most probably have a lot of defending to do, with the lethal pace of Sterling and Couthinho expected to create havoc. Despite Koeman’s claim that his is a team that dominates rather than counter-attack, Southampton would likely be happy to sit back and defend and make use of the rare chances to go upfront and set-pieces to score.

But it would not be easy for Liverpool either with most of the Southampton players keen to face their old teammates and give them a bitter start at their new club.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS:

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): MIGNOLET; MANQUILLO-SKRTEL-LOVREN-ENRIQUE; GERRARD-CAN-HENDERSON; STERLING-STURRIDGE-COUTINHO.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-3): FORSTER; CLYNE-FONTE-YOSHIDA-BERTRAND; WANYAMA-DAVIS-TAIDER; TADIC-PELLE-RAMIREZ.

KEY PLAYERS:

LIVERPOOL: Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge

SOUTHAMPTON: DusanTadic, Jose Fonte, Fraiser Forster

TV SCHEDULE:

UK: Sky Sports 1/HD and TalkSport Radio UK

US: SiriusXM FC and NBCSN

PREDICTIONS:

LIVERPOOL 1-0 SOUTHAMPTON