Southampton vs Liverpool – Combined 4-2-3-1 Line Up Featuring A Host Of New Signings

Liverpool will hope to continue their fine run of form when they visit Saint Mary on Saturday evening.

The hosts, on the other hand, are in a bad need of a win following back to back losses at the hands of Chelsea and Hull.

Southampton and Liverpool have an array of talents in their starting lineups, and here is how a combined best XI of the 2 great sides looks.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

GK – Forster

Not just for his top-flight experience alone does the youngster English keeper edge Karius out, with 15 saves and 3 clean sheets – albeit with 5 more appearances than the German, the Saint’s calmness and reflex ability also see him as a more reliable option.

LB – Milner

Putting in spectacular performances as a makeshift full-back isn’t the easiest job in the EPL, but this veteran has done it with ease since shifting from midfield further back down the pitch.

While Ryan Bertrand might have beaten Moreno to this spot if the Spaniard were to be in contention, his lack of finishing in attack compared to James’ sees him lose out to his fellow national team colleague.

CB – Virgil van Dijk

Probably the most underrated centre-half in the EPL, the Dutch has made 26 interceptions – double Lovren’s and has appeared in every minute of this term’s EPL giving his defensive best every game. Even Klopp wouldn’t mind having a Dijk in his team.

CB – Matip

Matip and Fonte are some of the best defenders in the top flight at the moment, but despite just 9 games old in terms of EPL experience, the Cameroonian has performed better this season.

Per game, the former Schalke 04 star has recorded more key passes, average passes, pass accuracy, long balls and shot accuracy than the Portuguese.

RB – Clyne

Former Southampton full-back has gotten better and better since switching for Anfield, and if it’s not a Kyle Walker or Bellerin, no right back is better than him in the league.

Not Martina or Soares will pip him to a starting spot if he were still lining up for the Saints.

CM – Henderson

Oriol Romeu doesn’t near this spot and it is reserved only for the most hardworking number 6 in the league at the moment.

Including the Spaniard and former Chelsea player who has been brilliant for Claude Puel’s side thus far, no player has more passes (800), more tackles (47) and most distance covered (131.3km) than the Liverpool skipper.

CM – Lallana

Another Saint Mary’s product who has gone on to attain greater form and is fulfilling potentials since arriving Liverpool, Lallana remains one of the best-attacking midfielders in England.

Højbjerg and Clasie can’t near Lallana’s level, and should both be glad he left before they ever arrived.

AML – Coutinho

Would you rather have Redmond, who has just 3 goals and is nevertheless a fine player, or the Brazilian with 5 goals and 5 assists play on the left wing of your team?

Even die-hard Saints would give anything to have the October player of the month nominee play just a game for their side.

AMC – Firmino

This versatile bag of tricks won’t only hold this spot down for himself in Southampton’s lineup, Charlie Austin would have to buckle up to keep his shirt.

5 goals and 3 assists from a makeshift number 9 is about the best return you would get anywhere in the world.

AMR – Mane

With 6 goals and 2 assists in 10 games for Liverpool, Southampton are probably wondering what they could have become if only they had managed to retain the west African star.

While Tadic has been excellent on the right wings, registering just a goal since the season started, but that  doesn’t compare with Mane’s form.

CF – Charlie Austin

With 5 goals and 1 assist in 10 EPL outings, Austin is perhaps one of the few out-and-out strikers that can force Klopp play a natural number 9 and draft his attacking trio behind him.

Such is the form of this Saints’ striker.