Liverpool comes back from the international break on Saturday and travels to St. Mary’s to take on Southampton. Liverpool currently sits atop the table, going 10-0-2 in all competitions since suffering a loss to Burnley.
The Reds will line up in their normal 4-3-3 and will have to find ways to break down Watford’s stingy defense.
Editor’s note: this Liverpool starting XI prediction and corresponding analysis was composed by Will Willems (@willdub88)
Loris Karius gets the start in net. He played arguably his best game in a Reds’ shirt in the last match before the international break against Watford, making a couple big saves in the second half.
It should be the first-choice back four barring any late setbacks for Liverpool. Dejan Lovren missed the Watford match with a viral infection, but recovered over the international break and will be good to go. Milner, Matip and Clyne have been steady as the Reds continue to look for consistency in the back.
Liverpool suffered a blow midweek when Adam Lallana suffered a hip injury in England’s friendly against Spain. He will miss the game, and it makes sense to do a straight swap with Georginio Wijnaldum coming in to replace him. Emre Can has continued to look better the more he has gotten on the pitch and will start alongside Jordan Henderson and Wijnaldum in the middle.
Up front may see some changes from the Watford game. Sadio Mane will start on the right side. With Phillipe Coutinho playing 85 minutes on Tuesday and taking a cross-Atlantic flight, it is likely he starts on the bench for Jurgen Klopp. That will push Roberto Firmino out to the left, with Daniel Sturridge leading the line.
Liverpool FC XI vs. Southampton
GK Loris Karius
RB Nathaniel Clyne – CB Joel Matip – CB Dejan Lovren – LB James Milner
MF Emre Can – MF Jordan Henderson – MF Georginio Wijnaldum
RW Sadio Mane – FW Daniel Sturridge – LW Roberto Firmino
For the match injury report go here.
As always, feel free to post your own Liverpool starting XI in the comments section below. Speak your mind on the formations and line-ups that are already presented here for your discussion.