Southampton vs Liverpool: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Liverpool make the trip to the south coast on Sunday afternoon as they visit Southampton in the Premier League.

The Reds return from the international break as league leaders after a very impressive start to Arne Slot’s reign as manager. The Dutchman has won all but two of his games in charge of the Merseyside club and has markedly improved a number of players at the club without major investment in the squad.

Liverpool will have an eye on two mammoth events on the horizon. European champions Real Madrid visit Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday evening before Manchester City make the trip to Merseyside in the Premier League the following Sunday.

Southampton, who have often seen the best and brightest stolen by Liverpool in the past, have made an underwhelming start to their return to the Premier League. They have collected four points from a possible 33 and suffered a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

A dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in mid-December, here you go 90 minutes guide to an intriguing matchup.

Head-to-head results Southampton vs Liverpool (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

Southampton will have to face the most in-form side in the division without their first-choice goalkeeper, with Aaron Ramsdale out with a finger injury. Center back Jan Bednarek is also missing to further weaken Russell Martin’s defence.

Gavin Bazunu is also sidelined, meaning Alex McCarthy, who was briefly linked with Liverpool as an emergency goalkeeper in the summer, will feature between the posts.

Will Smallbone and Ross Stewart are missing, but Ryan Fraser and Flynn Downes are expected to be available.

Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana could feature in the engine room, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis will be up next scoring on his England debut during the international break.

Expected line-up for Southampton against Liverpool (5-4-1): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Dibling, Downes, Aribo, Fernandes; archer

Slot has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was injured against Aston Villa before the international break, is still missing from Liverpool with a hamstring problem. He joins Alisson, Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott on the sidelines.

Alisson and Elliott are back in training for the Reds but need more time to complete their recoveries from long injuries. Jota and Chiesa are expected to return in the coming weeks, according to Slot.

Fortunately for Liverpool, skipper Virgil van Dijk is fit and available after picking up a knock during the international break with the Netherlands, and will partner Ibrahima Konate in defence. It remains to be seen how fresh Slot’s South American internationals are for Sunday’s trip.

Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson will continue their duel for the starting left-back spot, while Curtis Jones will be eager to continue his impressive form after brilliant for england during the international period in his first appearances in his country.

Liverpool predicted line-up against Southampton (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Núñez

The first against 20 rarely ends well for the second and there is unlikely to be a major upset on the south coast. Liverpool are in outstanding form, have a fantastic record against the Saints and are exactly the type of team that will thrive on Southampton’s brave passing football.

Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz are in confident mood in the forward line and will have opportunities to fill the boots against one of the most porous defenses in the division. Unfortunately for Martin’s men, they are unlikely to add to their meager four-point tally.

Prediction: Southampton 0-3 Liverpool

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