Nathan Jones faces a tough managerial debut as Southampton visit Liverpool at Anfield.
Victory would see Liverpool go sixth for at least a few hours, whilst Southampton could climb out of the relegation zone with a win.
Team News
James Milner could return for Liverpool after missing their last two matches due to concussion protocols.
Joel Matip (calf) and Naby Keita (hamstring) are also set to feature but Diogo Jota (calf), Luis Diaz (knee) and Arthur Melo (muscle) remain absent.
Southampton are set to be without Juan Larios as he battles an adductor injury.
Valentino Livramento (knee) and Kyle Walker-Peters (thigh) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 11 meetings against Southampton (W9, D1, L1).
- Southampton have claimed just one point from their last six visits to Anfield (D1, L5).
- Liverpool have kept six consecutive clean sheets at home to Southampton, during which they scored 16 goals without reply in their last five clashes on Merseyside.
- Virgil van Dijk has made more headed clearances in the league this season than any other Liverpool player (22).
- Che Adams is the only Southampton player to have scored a headed league goal this season.
Prediction
Having rotated his squad for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Derby, Jurgen Klopp surely will feel frustrated by a wasteful performance which required Havry Elliott, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez being required off the bench with little impact en route to victory via penalties.
Saying that, I do expect to see a refreshed line-up with first-team regulars having been rested who will be up to deliver another energetic and clinical performance, although I would like to see them guard the right flank better than they did at Tottenham last weekend.
Southampton meanwhile are now under new management but Nathan Jones faces a difficult debut against strong-quality opposition, so his task surely is likely to be shore up the Saints’ defence which has often been a solid part of Luton’s progress under his watch.
In fact I can see just one result coming but for Southampton, they should get a new manager bounce in a game where Jones’ new squad are surely facing an early audition ahead of the break, where he will likely make key decisions ahead of January’s transfer window.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Result: Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
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