Liverpool travel down south to St. Mary’s to face Southampton in a game which will have a significant bearing in the final top four places.
Liverpool have been on a great run of form recently and had a fantastic win against Spurs last time out in the league. The Reds managed to sneak the game 3-2 and keep their top four hopes alive. This game is massive for their top four dreams, too. If Liverpool were to lose they would be seven points adrift of Ronald Koeman’s men. However, if they were to win, they would only be one point behind the Saints.
Southampton have been perhaps the surprise package of the Premier League this season. After losing their key players in the summer: Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert, being three, who all moved to Liverpool, they have been excellent. They recruited well; Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic, despite tailing off recently, have been altogether sublime.
The last times these sides met was on the opening day of the season. Raheem Sterling put the home side in front before the half-time break, following a superb through ball from Jordan Henderson. It wasn’t so straight forward for Liverpool, though, as Nathaniel Clyne linked up with Dusan Tadic for a tremendous equalizer. Southampton, at this stage were all over Liverpool and looked the more likely team to grab a late winner. Daniel Sturridge, though, was the right man in the right place and scored a real poacher’s goal to win the game for Liverpool.
Pelle & Tadic
(saintsfc.co.uk)
Liverpool played a tough tie against Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday. The Reds notched a late winner through a controversial Mario Balotelli goal. Balotelli has been in quality form in recent games and is giving Brendan Rodgers a difficult decision when it comes to the team selection.
Despite Balotelli pushing for a start, I would have him on the bench for Sunday’s game. He seems like a fantastic impact substitute at the moment and I don’t want to change that. Daniel Sturridge as the vocal point of the attack. Raheem Sterling, who made a cameo appearance on Thursday night, returned from injury and will be pushing for a starting place. I’d play Sterling and Coutinho just in behind Daniel Sturridge.
Jordon Ibe got man of the match again on Thursday night. Ibe has been sensational since his return to Liverpool from his loan spell at Derby. Many turned their nose up at the idea of disrupting a youngster’s development. But Ibe has been an ever present figure in Liverpool’s side. I’d again start Ibe at right wing-back instead of Lazar Markovic. Although, it wouldn’t surprise me if Markovic did start as he is banned for Liverpool’s second-leg against Besiktas on Thursday night.
I’d keep our back three which kept yet another clean sheet in midweek. I think the constant Dejan Lovren substitute is a good one, too. He’s looked good when he comes on and it allows Emre Can to move into a more advanced role in the middle of midfield.
I’m going for a 2-0 Liverpool win with Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli scoring the Reds’ goals. The side I’d opt with:
(http://fanscorners.com/liverpool/squad-selector/)
Bobby Vincent
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