Strongest Liverpool Lineup To Face Southampton: Sterling Likely To Start In The First XI

Projected Liverpool Lineup vs Southampton

Liverpool is all set to take on Southampton in a crucial away fixture on Sunday. Ronald Koeman’s men, who are in great form and are currently placed fourth in the league table, will be a very strong hindrance for the Reds, who are desperately looking forward for a top four finish.

Full three points will help Liverpool to go up the table and their hopes of gaining a Champions League place will be kept in place. Even a draw will keep their hopes alive, but any negative result will push Brendan Rodgers’ men further down and mathematically it will be a difficult task.

Liverpool’s recent form in the Premier League is pretty impressive. They have remained unbeaten in the last six games, winning three. They had won their previous Premier League tie against Tottenham Hotspurs 3-2. They would hope to keep up their form in this game as well. Also, during the midweek they had won by a goal to nil against Besiktas in the Europa League round of 32 game.

Brendan Rodgers has successfully implemented his 3-4-2-1 tactics in the Liverpool team and the team seems to have adapted well in this formation. With a lone striker upfront, Rodgers concentrate mostly on his midfield where he fields six players.

Good news for Rodgers is that his most influential and talented player Raheem Sterling is back with the squad after a prolonged injury period. He is likely to start behind lone striker Daniel Sturridge in the right side and Philippe Coutinho on the left side.Steven Gerrard’s absence and Lucas Leiva’s injury problems leave Allen to accompany Henderson in the midfield pivot.

Raheem Sterling

Except for Raheem Sterling, the rest of the lineup is likely to remain same from their last game against Tottenham. Brendan Rodgers will likely stick to his winning combination.

Possible starting line-up for Liverpool against Southampton is given below along with the possible formation.

Liverpool predicted starting lineup:

Simon Mignolet; Emre Can, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho; Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno; Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho; Daniel Sturridge.

Raheem Sterling will play a crucial role in the side as his pace will be useful. Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen will have to be cautious in the midfield zone. Morgan Schneiderlin is back to the Southampton squad. The French midfielder is the main source of all the moves generated by the Southampton team.

Liverpool’s major weakness is on the left side, where Mamadou Sakho plays. In the last game Spurs’ young striker exposed the Red’s weakness, when he had beaten Sakho by sheer pace to fetch the first goal for his team. Sakho needs to be cautious as the Southampton attackers are no less.