Date: Saturday 21st September
Venue: Anfield
KO: 3pm
Venue: Anfield
KO: 3pm
Liverpool will look to consolidate on their undefeated start to the season when they welcome Southampton to Anfield this weekend. The Saints have had a somewhat sluggish start to the season and will face their toughest opponents of the season to date, but with a talented squad that’s improving every week, will still be very difficult to break down in this one.
Team News: Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Philippe Coutinho for this one after he sustained a shoulder injury against Swansea. The 21-year-old created six chances in his opening game this season against Stoke—showing just how dangerous he can be in attack—and will be sorely missed here. Daniel Agger (rib), Glen Johnson (ankle) and Aly Cissokho (ankle) are all questionable.
Liverpool will be without Philippe Coutinho for this one after he sustained a shoulder injury against Swansea. The 21-year-old created six chances in his opening game this season against Stoke—showing just how dangerous he can be in attack—and will be sorely missed here. Daniel Agger (rib), Glen Johnson (ankle) and Aly Cissokho (ankle) are all questionable.
Team News: Southampton
Luke Shaw should take the field once more after sustaining cramps last week against West Ham in the only other notable injury news for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Luke Shaw should take the field once more after sustaining cramps last week against West Ham in the only other notable injury news for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Recent Form:
Liverpool dropped their first points of the season last week against Swansea but maintained their undefeated start to the season(and kept their spot at the top of the table) in the 2-2 draw. The Reds’ two previous home games this season have both been 1-0 wins while Southampton have scored just once away. They beat West Brom 1-0 courtesy of a late Rickie Lambert penalty but lost their following away game to Norwich City. In their last three games, the Saints are winless and have scored just one goal.
Liverpool dropped their first points of the season last week against Swansea but maintained their undefeated start to the season(and kept their spot at the top of the table) in the 2-2 draw. The Reds’ two previous home games this season have both been 1-0 wins while Southampton have scored just once away. They beat West Brom 1-0 courtesy of a late Rickie Lambert penalty but lost their following away game to Norwich City. In their last three games, the Saints are winless and have scored just one goal.
Players to Watch:
Liverpool — Iago Aspas
Liverpool need Aspas to step up if they’re going to win this one. Playing as a secondary striker or wide forward, Aspas has created seven chances in total this year (equal most in team), but the Reds need him to fire in the No. 10 role vacated by Coutinho. He was poor in that role against Swansea, and it will be fascinating to see if he can improve against the Saints’ tenacious defensive midfield led by Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin.
Liverpool — Iago Aspas
Liverpool need Aspas to step up if they’re going to win this one. Playing as a secondary striker or wide forward, Aspas has created seven chances in total this year (equal most in team), but the Reds need him to fire in the No. 10 role vacated by Coutinho. He was poor in that role against Swansea, and it will be fascinating to see if he can improve against the Saints’ tenacious defensive midfield led by Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin.
Southampton — Rickie Lambert
Southampton are yet to score from open play this year, with their only goals of the season coming from a penalty and a free-kick respectively. To win here, they’ll need Lambert to step up and continue to create (and score) chances. The Englishman is yet to score in open play this season despite having 12 shots fall his way.
Southampton are yet to score from open play this year, with their only goals of the season coming from a penalty and a free-kick respectively. To win here, they’ll need Lambert to step up and continue to create (and score) chances. The Englishman is yet to score in open play this season despite having 12 shots fall his way.
Prediction:
Southampton might be attracting a lot of attention off the field given their strong transfer window, but they are yet to turn that into any on-field success. And until that happens, it’s hard to throw any real confidence behind them—especially when they’re playing a red-hot Liverpool team that is yet to drop any points (or even concede a goal) at Anfield this season.
Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Southampton might be attracting a lot of attention off the field given their strong transfer window, but they are yet to turn that into any on-field success. And until that happens, it’s hard to throw any real confidence behind them—especially when they’re playing a red-hot Liverpool team that is yet to drop any points (or even concede a goal) at Anfield this season.
Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
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